Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

Today, I decided to share a more personal story with music, that I haven’t used yet, on the podcast. With Thomas’ birthdate coming up, I am reminiscing about the musician boy, that I met in July of 1970. We were teenagers from opposite ends of the world. If he hadn’t spoken English at the time, our story would have turned out differently. Instead he began a conversation with me at the school-boy’s pub in West Berlin, and we immediately clicked.

Everyone loves, a great "Love Story", so this is ours!

I hope you are enjoying the early signs of spring, like I am here in Germany. I had the honor of celebrating with my family, the wedding of my oldest grandson recently. It was fascinating, to see the fruit of the joy of the Lord, that we had planted in our daughter’s lives so long ago. The celebration began with worship in the church, and continued with the presentation of new songs, and dancing, from both sides of the family and friends. It made me think of a song that Thomas wrote from Psalm 100, that our young daughters sang and danced to.  “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands, serve the Lord with gladness."

Watching them, reminded me of Thomas’ investment of love and music, that he had poured into his daughters. It was like a "full circle moment", coming back to where we had started. But now we have gained deeper perspectives about life, through the joys and sorrows, we have experienced. I just happen to have a recording of a song along those lines called “Welcome to the Family" that you can listen to!

Part Two - is titled Hippie Conversion - Episode 122- You can scroll back to that story!!

Today, I will take you back to the beginning of our story, as we told it when we were 31 and 32 years old. My granddaughter recently said to me, it is such a miracle that you stayed together as a couple. If it wasn’t for God saving both of you we wouldn’t even be here today. So we must never underestimate the power in prayer, for our loved ones.   

This event in West Berlin was in 1982, twelve years after we had orignally met in that very city. Nadja also brought her mother to the meeting, because she wanted her to hear, how Jesus saved her grandson. There were many details in our story, that were new to both of them. I was even surprised listening to Thomas tell about his upbringing. Fortunately, the event was recorded and because we were speaking in German, I will translate some portions of it.

Just this week, I happened to see an article titled, "The 70 Best Life Purpose Podcasts, that are worth listening to in 2026." At the top of the list was Jay Shetty, a motivational speaker. I have seen a few of his interviews with famous people. Just out of curiosity I started to scroll down the list, only to find that my podcast is also on the list, as “number twenty.” What a surprise! The article refers to Apple Podcasts, giving me a five star rating. It includes my introduction trailer, about how we found “true purpose”. There were also links with my titles in Japanese! It’s pretty mind boggling to know how far reaching a podcast can be. I also saw that my youngest listeners are in India!

When Thomas and I, were traveling on the road with fellow hippies, our aim wasn’t specifically about “purpose in life.” We believed that by experimenting with drugs, and new age practices, we would find the universal god. When we were told that Jesus is the truth, our blinded eyes were opened. Upon arriving at the Christian ranch, every single aspect of our lives began to change.

Together we experienced a beautiful transformation in our souls, the day we believed in Jesus our Savior. We used to sing a wonderful song from Isaiah 61, 3, that described this transformation: “He gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified.” Thomas and I, learned so much about the character of God, and His will for our lives, by singing scriptures. Living at the ranch in the midst of the Redwood forest, we got a glimpse of His beauty in creation. We believed that God planted us like baby trees, in his kingdom, and that He would make us grow, all to his glory.

In response to “The Lost Art of Preaching” episode, I have been amazed to see how quickly the views have added up. Most listeners I don’t know personally, but I presume, that there are various degrees of interest in this subject. I think the longer you have been around in the Christian scene, the more kinds of sermons you have heard. Some teach the listeners to know and understand the Bible; while others veer off tract, even so far as twisting verses, and the original meaning intended by the writer. It’s important for each of us, to not be intimidated by a preacher, to the extent that we are afraid to ask questions, or search the scriptures ourselves.

Last week was about the music! Today, I am taking a look at the biblical foundation, which was the inspiration for our songs. I have enjoyed listening this week, to an old sermon from Thomas, and then remembered I have all of his notes. I discovered that the church secretary, had put them in order, listing them according to the date and title. I was so glad to find the matching page to that tape. It is fascinating to see his outline with the scriptures and the main points he wanted to make.

The thing is, about old tapes, they have to be digitalized to use them. Three years ago, I took my tapes from the 70s, some videos and 8mm films, to be professionally copied. All I could imagine for the podcast stories, was our beginnings in West Berlin, and then in California. If you have been following me since the start of “Finding Purpose”, you have heard excerpts from all of those tapes. In my documentary on YouTube, you have seen a few snippets from the old films. So far it’s been a step by step adventure, of putting those treasures, into a podcast.  Believe me, there are a lot more things to uncover, so I try to be diligent in transporting the essence of those days.

Seems like I am always talking about music, and especially during our lives in the ‘80s. Guess what? I found another tape that I hadn’t listened to before. It only says, “to grandma and grandpa -January 1988.” It must have been in a shoe box, that I brought home from my parent’s house, many years ago. To my great surprise, most of the content is the girls singing with Thomas. By that time, they had a whole program that included choreography from the “Kids Praise” music. Depending on the audience, they either sang in English, or in German.

The impression I had while listening to the tape, reminded me of this German saying, it was a “Heile Welt”. It means the idea of a perfect, save and ideal world. This describes our family life, a place where peace, love and trust ruled. Not that we didn’t have any kinds of trials, but we had learned to take everything, to Jesus in prayer.

I think of what Jesus said, in John 14, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Do you ever take time, to look back over your life, and consider where you came from and where you are going? The heart of life, that I see more clearly now, is simple. Time flies and there is nothing new under the sun! We get so wrapped  up in our work and making plans, but honestly, only God knows what tomorrow will bring. For Thomas and I, as we grew older and our children were becoming teenagers, life was sometimes like a whirlwind. The steadying anchor that made our home a place of worship, was the music, prayer and praise. This kept us happy and content, most of the time anyway!

Our girls had a great music tape called “Kid’s Praise”, and Thomas had been translating the songs into German. The perfect message of one song, went like this; “One step at a time, with Jesus by my side, I'm climbing my mountain one step at a time. Even though you might grow weary, don’t be discouraged, in our weakness God is strong, remember he’ll never leave you he won’t forsake you, he’s your strength, he’s your song, so sing and start to say, I’m climbing my mountain, step by step, day by day, all the way, I’m gonna make it, one step at a time.”

At the end of the last episode, you heard the song about living with the Holy Spirit. Thomas and I, were taught as new Christians that it was God’s Spirit, that would transform our hearts and minds. This is how we began living, with true purpose according, to the scripture.

Thomas, as the narrator for the musical, had explained; “The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our teacher, our helper. He gives strength, joy, and good gifts. He speaks with a gentle voice to us, if we decide to do what he says, then we will rejoice. Doing God’s will is not something that we have to shy away from, because he has given us a new heart and a new perspective. The great adventure of life with God, is just that, doing what He wants.”

We have a new year before us, and I feel like this is a good time for me, to get a fresh approach to storytelling. With each episode I am always juggling, the past and the present, and I find that each chapter is intertwined. I began with the title “Finding Purpose,” because that is what Thomas and I, were looking for. Fortunately, our search for the light, while stumbling around in the darkness, only lasted about three years.

A young man we met in Mendocino, told us he had found the truth, and never had to search again. That comment, made a huge impression on us, because we had dabbled in many versions of spirituality. Each one, promised a path to illumination. Our new friend had found the answer, it was Jesus, who said of himself, “I am, the way, the truth, and the life.” That evening, the eyes of our hearts, were beginning to see the true light.