Sometimes life feels…well—empty—devoid of purpose. It’s easy to feel like a hamster running on a stupid wheel. But that’s wrong.
Life’s not purposeless. And you’re not a hamster.
But I know the feeling of waking up and wondering why you’re even bothering. Why even open your eyes, get out of bed, get ready to go to work, eat, see a friend or two, then do it all over again? I’ve been there.
But, again, you’re not a hamster.
The very fact that you want meaning means something.
You see, desires have an object for that which is desired. If I’m hungry there’s food. If I’m thirsty there’s water. If I’m lustful there is sex.
Inherent in our desires is something that fulfills it.
The same is true with meaning.
All of us have a deep desire to know what we do matters. We want to feel it. We’re famished.
I believe that the greatest meaning is found in Jesus, serving and loving him because he loved me unto death to give me life. So I live to delight him, albeit imperfectly, but that’s my purpose.
But, I get that not all of you are there. That may be a far cry from your worldview. That’s fair. So do this.
Search.
Make that your meaning to look for it.
That’s what I did.
Searching isn’t a guarantee you’ll find it, but it’s a start.
Hunger doesn’t equate to eating. But it would be odd if food didn’t exist in a world where our bodies by nature need it as fuel. That would be absurd.
Meaninglessness is absurd.
Sometimes we hunger for it more than a hot meal. Don’t we?
So know this. Your life has meaning. You just haven’t found it yet.
Seek it out. It’s there to be found.
And it’s more satisfying than the most delicious of fare.
Books on meaning
Man’s Search for Meaning (affiliate) by Victor Frankl is one of the most amazing books I read on meaning. He was a holocaust survivor and wrote about how he found meaning in his suffering. I wrote a post on it.
If you’re interested in Jesus and the meaning he provides, check out C.S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity (affiliate). Lewis breaks down the major tenants of this faith and why he believes them.
Anthony de Mello’s Awareness (affiliate) is also an interesting and eye-opening read. His ideas and the way he conveys them are surprising and fresh. I came across it because it’s one of Tim Ferriss’s top recommended books.
John Pa 