Now I recall I’d skipped breakfast that morning and so was famished at lunchtime. To add to that, it was my first visit to this restaurant which my friend declared was her favorite and by the looks of the dishes the waitress just laid before us, I predict it’s going to make it to my favorite list too! So God knows at that particular moment, my flesh reigned. No wonder I missed the golden opportunity altogether as my mind was only on the food and my heart was in sympathy with my growling stomach!
Next time you hear this kind of self-pitying remark, remember to seize the golden opportunity to share this message. I could have kicked myself for not doing that and only realized later that I’d missed a great opportunity to share my own convictions about the purpose of life with someone who needed to hear. Anyway, I’m sending her this blog now and I pray she’ll disgest some of its contents.Better late than never!I’m certain many of you would have heard something like it. As we were chatting over lunch, my friend moaned:
“Do you know I’ve no life! It’s just work, work and more work. Work piles up endlessly in the office, then back home, housework is just as bad – maybe worse! Then there’s the children’s programs and schooling to attend to. In the end, for me, no life! Except escape on a holiday – but then, when I return, I find there’s more work to catch up. So what’s the solution?”
Hours laters when I was back home, her words and question resurfaced and I just couldn’t dismiss it from my mind. I began to think why I never experienced the same negative thoughts about my work and my life as my friend has. It’s not that I don’t have much share of troubles and difficulties in life for those who know about my life, will admit it’s to the contrary. But although pressured, I am not defeated. I’m not a workaholic either. However I feel bored easily and I find work can be stimulating when it is challenging. One root cause of my friend’s woe, I think, is the way she views life and work as existing in separate compartments. Nothing is further from the truth! Work is part of life! So is our family! And friends and our community!
I think the biggest fallacy which is becoming increasingly popular in our day is the false notion that “having life” equates with personal enjoyment and selfish pleasure. Nothing is further from the truth! The root of this fallacy lies in placing “I” at the centre of all things. Do you realise the moment you take “I” out of the centre, everything changes! And I realise, “Thank God! Now I know why I don’t feel negative about life and work. Because I’ve chosen to put God at the centre! And because of this I am blessed! Amen! ” Therefore conversely, the inevitable fate that awaits people who reject God or even doubt the existence of God is wrapped in a bundle of despondency and futility. They will grapple hopelessly in the search for life and its meaning but miss it altogether.
For how can anyone define “meaning” apart from its “source”? Everything that means something derives its meaning from its origin or source, doesn’t it? A spade is simply a spade because the one who first created it designed it for that very specific purpose. So it is with every word in our vocabulary and every object in existence which derives its meaning from its source.
Hence, how can one find “meaning in life” then apart from its source?
I love these words the Bible puts in the mouth of Job in chapter 12, verse 9-10 Book of Job :
“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this
In whose hand is the life of every living thing
And the breath of all mankind.”
I leave you with these words and thoughts.
May the meditations of my heart and the words in my blog be a blessing to all my readers, friends and loved ones.
wordknights 