“Life itself can’t give us joy, unless we really will it. Life only gives us time and space, it’s up to us to fill it.”
This framed rhyme caught my attention many years ago hanging on the wall in the office of one Roanoke City official. I never forgot it and it was again brought to mind as I listened to a eulogy at one of the multiple funerals held recently here in the Roanoke Valley. One eulogist, in quoting Christ’s Words, “I go now to prepare a place for you…” followed it with, “but it’s up to us to prepare for that place!”
The increasing turmoil throughout the world today (and this nation in particular), coupled with the associated pressures and tragedies it brings to human beings everywhere is creating a painful awareness that old systems and values are becoming outmoded and dysfunctional. Consequently hundreds of thousands of people throughout this nation as well as throughout the entire world are becoming disillusioned.
In seeking new solutions to the critical problems facing modern man, we discover the problems to be not only societal, scientific and technological, but mainly spiritual! It is very difficult, if not impossible, to grasp the importance of meaning in life without first considering the idea of purpose. Without a sense of purpose life becomes meaningless and unfulfilled.
At the present juncture in the history of man we see increasing meaninglessness reflected in people about us as well as in current social institutions, a characteristic hallmark of a collapsing world order leading ultimately to apathy, a condition of spiritual and psychological death. It is a sense of purpose that helps bridge the gaps of disappointment, sorrow and trouble that are inevitable to some extent along life’s pilgrimage through this transitory world of existence.
Without some source of motivation and sense of high purpose, something else will take its place. In the absence of spiritual motivation, physical desires stand ready to fill the void. Highly influenced by today’s lowered moral standards, it becomes easier to allow physical desires to become the predominant determinants of one’s behavior-–by choice, thus reducing man’s status lower than that of the animal–that cannot help being an animal. In such state one becomes socially irresponsible and unfit as a friend, spouse or citizen.
It is nearly impossible for anyone in this advanced new stage of mankind’s maturity to be unattached from the old world order. Therefore, as it crumbles, those most firmly attached will inevitably become rolled up with it–as a new world order is rolled out.
“To put more beliefs into harmony with science, there can be no opposition for truth is one,” the Holy Writings state. “When religion, shorn of its superstitions, traditions and unintelligent dogmas, shows its conformity with science, then will there be a great unifying, cleansing force in the world that will sweep before it all wars, disagreements, and struggles, Only then will mankind be united in the power of the Love of One God (However you Perceive It).
“O friends,” we often remind you from the Holy Writings of this new era, “Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed. Neither be neglectful of your high (purpose) and destiny! … (Investigate! 1-800-22-UNITE)
