When a person makes a radical statement about his or her purpose in life, most people react with equally radical answers and actions. They may express incredulity, even shock, by vocal opposition or, perhaps, even by laughter. Years ago a college friend, after two years of "just getting by in a business course," announced that he was changing to a pre-medical course of study. When he said, "I’m going to be a doctor," his friends almost laughed in his face. He had never been a good student; in high school, he was next to last in his class. He had been accepted in college because his father had money and political influence in the town - their hometown - where the college was located. To make matters worse, the young man was something of a playboy.

To the surprise of most who knew him, he t…