From the Greek Mythology, a story is told of a man named Sisyphus. For some reason, I could not exactly remember, Sisyphus was condemned to push a big rock up a hill throughout eternity. Every time the rock would reach the top of the hill, it would automatically slide back to where Sisyphus started. Over and over again, Sisyphus would push up that rock. Imagine doing that the whole day, or much more, for eternity. For many, Sisyphus has become the symbol of meaningless, fruitless life - a life that is without purpose or meaning - just rolling up that rock, and really heading nowhere, a life heading to nothing. We thank God we're not Sisyphus. For we discover, life is not meaningless. Life is not purposeless. In fact, life can become meaningful and full of worthy pursuit. I believe that we have a purpose. I believe that our lives have meaning, that we are not just here on earth for nothing - just matters that occupy space. Of course not.
We are called to look at our own live, to reflect, to listen. The psalmist asks the Lord to " teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). And I believe that is something that we should do if we want to have a life that is not just existing, but a life is that is lived to the fullest - the maximum potential. These times should help us assess what we have, what we do not have and where we are going. This means going the route of self-autopsy.* Not always the most pleasant of activities, but totally necessary if we are to make something of our lives. Frederick Buechner tells us "Listen to you life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy, and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis, all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." Examine your life and determine its direction. Look at your life in all honesty and consider where it is headed. Allow yourself to answer the difficult questions of life. What is the purpose of your life? "Do you know where you are going to and do you like the things that life is showing you?" Diana Ross plaintively asked once. Questions like, is my life full of meaning? Where is my life headed? What are the most important things in my life? Am I giving priority to the most important things in my life? Am I happy? Where, in the midst of your life and its many activities, is the Lord? How important is God in your life?
These can be questions that you must learn to answer, for these are the most important things in your life - what you are pursuing - what or who you love and what you are doing for the Lord. This is not taking you on a guilt trip, but I guess there must be special times when you can sit and ponder on these things. Consider the Lord. Remember the Lord in the days of your youth, a wise old king once said, and he is right. While you still have the strength, while you still have the years, while you still are in you prime - remember God. Consider Him. Devote yourself in knowing Him and serving Him, and you will discover a life that is full of meaning and purpose.
We are grateful we do not have to live like Sisyphus whose existence is devoted to pushing a rock up a hill and doing it over and over again. We can have meaning and direction in our lives. The first step is to think about God. This is the very basic step we need to do first. Think about Jesus. Consider Him. And let Him be part of your life, and you will discover the difference His presence in your life makes! Let this be our desire - to find out what our lives mean - to find out the true meaning of existing, to find out what is truly important and what we should do. Take that first step.
We are called to look at our own live, to reflect, to listen. The psalmist asks the Lord to " teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12). And I believe that is something that we should do if we want to have a life that is not just existing, but a life is that is lived to the fullest - the maximum potential. These times should help us assess what we have, what we do not have and where we are going. This means going the route of self-autopsy.* Not always the most pleasant of activities, but totally necessary if we are to make something of our lives. Frederick Buechner tells us "Listen to you life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy, and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis, all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." Examine your life and determine its direction. Look at your life in all honesty and consider where it is headed. Allow yourself to answer the difficult questions of life. What is the purpose of your life? "Do you know where you are going to and do you like the things that life is showing you?" Diana Ross plaintively asked once. Questions like, is my life full of meaning? Where is my life headed? What are the most important things in my life? Am I giving priority to the most important things in my life? Am I happy? Where, in the midst of your life and its many activities, is the Lord? How important is God in your life?
These can be questions that you must learn to answer, for these are the most important things in your life - what you are pursuing - what or who you love and what you are doing for the Lord. This is not taking you on a guilt trip, but I guess there must be special times when you can sit and ponder on these things. Consider the Lord. Remember the Lord in the days of your youth, a wise old king once said, and he is right. While you still have the strength, while you still have the years, while you still are in you prime - remember God. Consider Him. Devote yourself in knowing Him and serving Him, and you will discover a life that is full of meaning and purpose.
We are grateful we do not have to live like Sisyphus whose existence is devoted to pushing a rock up a hill and doing it over and over again. We can have meaning and direction in our lives. The first step is to think about God. This is the very basic step we need to do first. Think about Jesus. Consider Him. And let Him be part of your life, and you will discover the difference His presence in your life makes! Let this be our desire - to find out what our lives mean - to find out the true meaning of existing, to find out what is truly important and what we should do. Take that first step.
"All faith is autopsy"
- Soren Kierkegaard
*au' top-sy, n [Gr.autopsia a seeing with one's own eyes; autos, self, and opsis, a sight, appearance] 1. The personal act of seeing
definition taken from: http://www.somareview.com/index.cfm
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