Spiritual: August 23, 2017 Issue [#8459]
<< August 16, 2017Spiritual Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueAugust 30, 2017 >>

Newsletter Header
Spiritual


 This week: A Life of Meaning
  Edited by: SophyBells Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Hi, I'm SophyBells Author Icon ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.

The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.
*Smile*


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B0CJKJMTPD
Product Type: Kindle Store
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99


Letter from the editor

A Life of Meaning

In a scene from the movie, “City Slickers” Jack Palance’s character Curly ask Billy Crystal’s character Mitch, “Do you know what the secret of life is?” He holds up one finger and continues, “This.” To which Mitch replies, “Your finger?” Curly says “One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don’t mean shit.” Mitch asks, “Yeah, but what’s that one thing?” And Curly replies, “That’s what you’ve got to figure out.”

The meaning of life is a philosophical concept about the purpose and significance of human existence, and is the subject of much philosophical, scientific and theological study and speculation. It can include a range of questions such as: Why are we here? What is the nature of reality? What is the value of life? For most of us there is probably more than one way we would answer those questions, given where we are in life and what situation we may be experiencing at any given moment. But what if I were to ask you to give one answer to the question – given who you are right now, today, right here, on August 23, 2017 – what would your answer be? What is the meaning or purpose of life – in particular, of your life?

What is the meaning of our life, or what is our purpose here on earth? What should we do and how should we live? Why are we here? What is our purpose? In other words, what gives our life meaning and purpose? We asked these questions when we were young and continue to ask them as we’ve grown older, and, if you are anything like me, your answer would probably be different at various points of your life. My office bookshelves are full of books with all of those questions, and some of them even have answers. From the Hebrew Bible we have Micah’s exhortation to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God – that’s what he believed the meaning of life was about. Jesus said the purpose or meaning of life was to love God with heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. The Buddha said it was to be awake and mindful, and to be compassionate. Plato believed that the meaning of life was found in attaining the highest form of knowledge, while Aristotle suggested that it was to be aware of oneself. Immanuel Kant proposed that it meant acting in a way that is congruent with universal laws, while Martin Buber said it was to live a life of dialogue. Abraham Heschel said the meaning of life was to be found in wonder, and Viktor Frankl said it was found in hope and our response to life. Paul Tillich suggested that it meant being courageous and affirming life itself, and Jean-Paul Sartre asserted that there is no meaning other than what we create, thus life and its meaning are made in our actions..

Former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill coined the phrase “All politics is local.” Meaning that a politician's success is directly tied to his or her ability to understand and influence the issues of his constituents. Politicians must appeal to the simple, mundane and everyday concerns of those who elect them into office. Those personal matters, not big and intangible ideas are often what voters care most about, according to this principle. And it occurs to me that the same could be said about the meaning of life question. Whatever you say is the purpose or meaning of your life at a particular moment in time becomes, in a sense, your mission statement for life. And as all politics are local, so too is your answer to the question of the meaning of life.

That doesn’t mean that when you answer the question, the scope of your answer only has to do with things in your personal area of concern and is therefore short-sighted and self-centered, though of course I suppose that could be true for some.But what I mean by that is that whatever we answer for the question of the meaning or purpose of our life usually has to do with something we either care about deeply and/or have some sort of direct contact with or passion for. So, for instance, Jesus had a deep connection with the Sacred Mystery, deeper than most human beings – and from that sense of sacred connection, he believed that his purpose, and ours, was to love God and love other people as our central meaning of life. His belief rose from his life experience and understanding of the Sacred. The Buddha’s arrival at his core belief in the meaning of life as being awake, mindful, and compassionate, stemmed from his own life experience as well, as it did for Plato, Aristotle, and the others I mentioned earlier. So it’s only natural that when we think about and express our own life purpose or meaning, it will also come from our own personal experience and passion.

Robert Fulghum tells one of my favorite stories in answer to the question, about a time when he was a younger man, studying Greek language and culture in Greece for the summer. Alexander Papderos had founded an institute devoted to healing the wounds of war on the island of Crete. At the end of a two-week conference Dr. Papaderos asked, "Are there any questions?" And Fulghum, half-jokingly, asked, "What is the meaning of life?" Papaderos said, "I will answer your question," as he pulled a small round mirror out of his wallet, and said these words:

When I was a small child, living during the war [WWII], we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place. I tried to find all the pieces and put them back together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy, and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine - in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find. I kept the little mirror, and as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child's game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of the light. But light - truth, understanding, knowledge - is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.

I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world - into the black places in the hearts of men - and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life." And then he took out his small mirror and holding it carefully, caught the bright rays of daylight streaming through the window and reflected them onto my face and onto my hands folded on the desk.

So, what is the meaning of life? How can you live a life of meaning?



Editor's Picks

Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review. I realize I post mostly poems, but that is because it is tough to find other types of spiritual writing on the site (most are poems). If you have something you would like me to highlight, please do share it with me, thanks!


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1911925 by Not Available.

 
Image Protector
STATIC
Unwrapping the Onion Layers Open in new Window. (13+)
Her core desire is purpose and meaning of this life
#2083981 by Alexi Author IconMail Icon

 Meaning of Life Open in new Window. (E)
unstoppable train called life
#2023676 by Mina~ Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
STATIC
The Phenomenal Dogwood Tree Open in new Window. (E)
Why it holds a special meaning for me and how I'm reminded each year.
#2083268 by 👼intueyLet Your Light Shine Author IconMail Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2126010 by Not Available.

 Total Solar Eclipse Open in new Window. (E)
Written for the August 9, 2017 Short Story Newsletter titled "Total Solar Eclipse"
#2130721 by Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon

 
Image Protector
STATIC
A Version Of Truth Open in new Window. (18+)
Journalist caught in the story.
#2131726 by ~Brian K Compton~ Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 13.94


Ask & Answer

Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (July 26, 2017)Open in new Window. } about Friends Forever:

From armstrong Author Icon
Life is so busy. I saw an email from Writing.com. I slow down to read the stories and writings here. It bring tears. This is an awesome place. Thank you so much for sharing your miracle.


You are most welcome, glad you enjoyed it!

*Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun*

From Innerlight Author Author Icon
Sophy,what a great concept (Friends Forever) in our own country. It will survive only if we've got good Christian people running the show. I live in a small town and I see a lot of conflict amongst many of my friends yet they call themselves Christian's. I try to overlook it for there is still some goodness in their hearts.


Friends Forever is an interfaith effort, not merely a Christian one - it will survive because of people of all faiths who put love and compassion over right and wrong.

*Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun* *Flower1* *Flower2* *Flower3* *Flower4* *Flower5* *Flower6* *Sun*

Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! SophyBells Author Icon

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B01CJ2TNQI
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


<< August 16, 2017Spiritual Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueAugust 30, 2017 >>

This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright.