 A Life Worth Living
by claribel santiago
In the last couple of years I have been barraged by communications from people in my past; long lost friends, acquaintances and relatives I had not heard from in several years, even decades. A few of these have shocked me because of their place in my life so many years ago.
The onset of calls and emails have caused me to look into my past to try and surmise meaning. I have had to consider each of these individual’s role in my life, the underlying impulse and I have even had to look at things I had buried long ago.
The life of a Christian is a constant renewal and growth, a constant seeking for change, to be better people, becoming like Christ daily. In considering those who have contacted me, I've had to look at the deeper meaning. Beyond the communication to consider the intent and motivation behind their actions; and have even had to search my own soul. What is the common thread? Why after so many years have these people come back into my life?
I can hyper-spiritualize and assert that God is trying to teach me an object lesson or that He is just trying to use me to speak to them. As true as these statements are, one thing is evident, they all seek to remember a part of their lives that meant something.
Consider the days for they are wicked
In every one of our lives there is a personal time of reckoning. When we assess where we have been, where we are going and what we leave behind. I believe it is true for each of us. It is inevitable for the human soul to consider the life lived.
The common thread in our present situation, mine and theirs, is mid-life. The common goal is to find meaning and purpose. When we do not find satisfaction in our present, because it is not what we envisioned or hoped it to be, we will often seek to find it in our past.
The Bible tells us that eternity is written on the heart of man Eccl. 3:11. We seek to live forever and as we approach mid life, the realization of our mortality is fast upon us. What then shall we say about life?
My “mid-life crisis” came at the age of 30 and culminated at 32, when I finally realized that a life without Jesus was not a life worth living. It was not sudden, it was not forced, but a culmination of events that left me disillusioned and yearning for more.
My life since then has not been without turmoil. I would be amiss to say that it has not been fraught with sorrow and even pain. However, one thing has been and is certain since I became a Christian: I can look at my past for what it was, learn from it, be grateful for the lessons, but my hope, faith and security is in my future, one that is secure in Christ.
As life becomes more difficult and our economy, politics, wars and rumors of wars (Matt 24:6) continue to spin out of control, where do we go for comfort? Where do we find peace, security, hope and meaning? For me the answer was found many years ago, a life built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. I have found meaning and purpose in my life, not in people, finances or situations, but in the one true God.
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will. complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
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If you are reading this today, wondering about your meaning and purpose pray to God and ask Him to show you.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
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Have questions? Need prayer? Need encouragement? Need to know your not alone? Drop me a line I want to pray for you and encourage you. Bible verses are taken from the New King James Versions.
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