 Spiritual: June 07, 2006 Issue [#1079] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Puditat  
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Spiritual: relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical matter; intangible. Collins Dictionary and Thesaurus
This newsletter explores ideas of the spiritual nature that exists in each and every one of us in an open and non-judgemental manner.
Each editor brings to the newsletter their own backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and opinions. Whether you disagree, agree, doubt or applaud the views expressed, let us all show respect to each other. Together we can learn something about the many varied aspects of the spiritual self and enjoy our differences in true meaning of the Spirit of Community.
Enjoy! 
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Life is a pretty broad topic. But there are three major things which most of us want out of it.
Future
We are all, even if we don't realise it, working towards some sort of future. Some of us want more from it than others, but we all want one. Work, relationships, hobbies, decisions we make and our actions all work together to form a picture of our future.
The future of our lives can also be called 'hope' - where we hope to be in 5, 10, 25, or 60 years.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Meaning
One of the polls I constructed asked what your theory on life was - what is the meaning of it all? Most of us want some sort of meaning out of this existence. Do we really want a pointless life that serves no purpose?
To find a meaning in life can also be finding 'faith' - what we hope life means. This level of faith, or our definition of the meaning, largely determines what choices we will make.
...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time...
Titus 1:2
Intimacy
I do not know anybody who does not want a relationship with another person. People are beings of emotion, of heart. It is natural that we all want to seek the matching of our heart with another.
This aspect of life can also be called 'love. We all desire love, we all desire to love.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like him.
1 John 4:16-17
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There are many different views on this subject, and they are pretty fairly represented amongst the feedback I have received on my three polls from last month's newsletter.
These comments are listed below, under 'Ask and Answer'. I have refrained from making comments, allowing each person's opinion to speak for it's own case.
If you want to check the results of the polls, or participate in the polls if you haven't already, click the links. 
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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Till next time;
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Comments for "What's Your Theory on Life?"
I enjoyed participating in this poll. You give a wide variety of choices and by including "other", you can hit all the bases. This will be an interesting poll to check back on to see how the various responses pan out. Keep writing!
cnoto
I have pondered the meaning of life for as long as I can remember. The only two conclusions I've come up with thus far for me personally is I've brought 4 smart, beautiful, bright children in the world who will make something of their lives and for me personally to make a difference in the lives of animals in need. I think everyone is here for some purpose, whether that purpose is something they do directly themselves, or indirectly, such as being a parent of someone who makes a positive impact in the lives of others.
lifewriter
The meaning of life is purely biological.
You are born so that you can mature and find a mate with whom to make another generation, thus sustaining your specie's continued survival.
thejenigma
Holy smokes - the meaning of life in a user poll. Pretty ambitious. I could have checked off about four of the possibilities and been part right. But if I would say the meaning (purpose) of life is to learn. Every entity on Earth and on any planet is there to learn. That includes plants, animals, humans - every level of life. I put this ahead of "loving God" because you cannot love God if you do not have a self to love him with and you develop the self by learning the lessons of life. This does not happen in one lifetime but in millions of lifetimes. There is so much to learn. No one could possibly learn the lessons of life in one lifetime. Sometimes we are lucky if we learn one or two things well.
The purpose of life is to learn and if you ain't learning you ain't livin'. (a little variation on a country song that said "if you ain't lovin' you ain't livin'")
wisdomsearch
It's not an easy thing to think of a number of reasonable choices in answer to this question. There are, of course, other possibilities but you did a great job! I give you points for fearlessness!
Shule Aroon
nancy-s
The answer to the question "What is the meaning of life?" that works best for me is "The meaning of Life is to find the meaning of Life." That concept keeps me living; it's motivating! It also helps me to turn everything over to God, so that I don't become distracted by the need for an answer to that which I can't understand. God has His own divine reasons that my feeble being can't grasp. I do know it is Loving and Right-- that's all I need to know.
daydreamer
I chose passing on truth and knowledge because all the other choices are a part of this. Serving and loving God can be had after you have known truth and knowledge.
Alimohkon
Goodness...existentialism is so depressing. An island in a meaningless world where only our actions can ascribe any sort of order or meaning. Gods. I could never live in a world like that. I believe too much in there being a reason for everything. Yeah, personal agency is really important, but I believe that we act within a grand scheme. However, I think our job here is just to love, 'cause that'll take care of all the rest of them.
-Quaddy
Professor Q 
This is a great poll! I think this question is one that a lot of people are contemplating right now. I chose "I have not made up my mind on this subject." Think I'm still trying to find the answer to this questions. But this poll definitely made me think!
lizco252
To make a contribution, big or small, to the world; To make an impression; to leave a mark. To be not "a wave", but "part of the ocean".
Livia Novelle
Interesting poll, Puditat . As a Christian, I did respond "to serve and love God, our Creator." But I think life is really much more complex than that. Yes, we must love and serve God, but in doing that we will discover our true meaning for existance. I believe that each of us was created for a specific purpose for a specific way of serving God. And when we find that purpose, and serve God gladly, the serving is not hard and certainly not a chore. Rather, it's refreshing. After all, the Creator knows best our gifts and our faults.
Blessings,
Kenzie 
Life has no meaning until we ourselves give it meaning. When we are born, we have no purpose until we strive for something. Some strive to be writers, musican, artist or doctors. While others are contended with being a single rose in an endless line of rose bushes.
Each of us must find what makes our heart leap and gives us reason to wake up each day. In the end, we can look back and hopefull have fond memories of living a life well lived. And of great lessons learned.
StarLiteLily
FOr me life is to be enjoyed because life to short!!!!!
Freddie LaGrotta 
I wonder if anyone else was like me, hovering their mouse over their initial decision and, at the last minute, after mulling it over, switching it to the majority vote (not knowing, of course, that it was the majority vote beforehand).
I would want to change everything that needed changing, but reflecting on my own precedence, I would probably try to change, without actually changing. So, then I suppose I'd just carry on. Make any sense? 
Good question!
scarletheels
To answer your poll "What is the meaning of life" I chose other. I believe that the
meaning of life is the testing of our worthiness to return to God. It is our test,
proven through choice and accountability (right and wrong) that we will be tested of
whether we will go to Heaven or Hell.
Ash Night
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Comments for "Meaning of Life - do you care?"
I have thought about this often and realizing that so many think about it I figure that
(The meaning of life is to seek the meaning of life.)
Sal R.A.
If I could, I'd choose more than one answer. I like the options you've included. I'm actually really surprised that no one, at 40 votes, hasn't chosen 'other'. And I'd be curious to know, once someone does vote 'other', what the answer would be.
scarletheels
good question. there should be more options for the reaction, though... there's always the occasional funny person who has an unpredictable reaction... such as "ah, finally! someone has had the sense to post a vote about this great question that we ask ourselves everyday!"
FOr the record, the meaning of life, according to me, is 42. And not only because i am a Douglas Adams fan, but also because since the point of life it basically to live and have kids so that they can live and have kids who then can live and have kids, etc etc., the 42 is a good answer. The answer should be something random or meaningless, because life is, well, random and meaningless. ^_^
easilyamused
I personally don't think there is a meaning of life. We live and then we die. Anyway, I marked the 'other' choice.
mrziggles
I don't believe there is one overiding meaning of life at all. Life is what each of us make it, not predefined purposes.
Andrea
The reason I say other is that I am searching for the true answer, but I will never find it conclusivly in this life and as such it is a never ending search. Done not just for the discovery but rather for the journy.
Ric The Woolicane
Very great question! I think everyone should try to realize that this question really DOES have a good point it's trying to make. It's not just theorizing. And, try to not think too much of what the 'Monty Python' characters have said. Well, then again . . . They are funny and thought provoking as it stands.
boohat
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Comments for "What Would you Do?"
I think I'd change the wording of the question to "what would you want to do?"rather than "what would you do?" My reason for this is that even those of us who believe we already know that the purpose of life is to love and serve our God and our neighbor as ourselves, we don't always do it now. It may be what we want to do, but not what we do do.
That means we're in deep do-do, right?
Wren
would depend what it was...
Theday
I would probably think over what I was told then disregard it as being irrelevent.
Sal R.A.
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Feedback not related to a particular poll
 Hi.
I'm commenting on what Puditat said:
Spirituality has a great joy to fulfill in the writer's heart once you learn to connect the two. It could come in the form of a retreat, meditation, worship, or prayer. But one thing I know...
If our spirit is left to become too dry, so our writing processes will suffer also.
It got me thinking to the past couple of years. It seemed every time I picked up a pen, nothing would happen and anything I did write was too horrible to continue with. The past couple of years, I've been struggling with my faith. It was almost inexsistent before 6 months ago; but now that I've gotten my life straight agian, I find it easier to write what's on my mind or a simple school assignment. I think the reason I had so much trouble writing before was because I ignored my faith. Now that I'm living right, I hope to write much more, now.
alaina
How wonderful to hear you've rediscovered your faith. May God continue to bless you with inspiration.
Great NL! I enjoyed taking the polls and was surprised to see most agreed with my answers  I usually have a different outlook on things like this, than most. It just goes to show that no matter which path we take to get there, that we are all striving for the same ending. 
👼intuey 
 Glad you enjoyed them.
Thank you dear one for the thought provoking polls. I have been away from my newsletters for a while. I missed them.
Thanks,
PastVoices
And I, in turn, have missed hearing from you.
These polls were fun. I know that was the point, but I feel the need to point out that your results may reflect the opinions of Spiritual Newsletter readers, but probably not the population in general, or even WDC members in general. Not exactally a 'random sampling' after all. (Sorry - if you haven't guessed I'm the one person so far who voted "...make a scientifically sound decision. )
Still fun!
karabu
These polls were open to everyone at Writing.com, and I know some have taken them who do not read the Newsletter. A point well taken, however. I shall let the polls remain up for some time, and eventually, a representative view may be achieved. *shrug* One can hope...
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