“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 of a Roanoke City official. I never forgot it. It was again brought to mind as I listened to a eulogist at one of the multiple funerals held recently here in our Roanoke Valley, several of which were for family members and friends.
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 of the world, coupled with the associated pressures and tragedies it brings to human beings everywhere, is creating a painful awareness that old systems and values are outmoded and dysfunctional. Consequently hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world as well as within this nation, 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 especially spiritual.
This fact was most clearly demonstrated in the resignation of the most powerful leader of one of this nation’s two-party political system at the time, after meeting with Pope Francis while visiting our nation’s Capitol. Perpetually demonstrated by Pope Francis was the unparalleled twin power of humility and spirituality.
It is very difficult if not impossible to grasp the importance of meaning in life without 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 stands ever ready to 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 our status lower than that of the animal–that cannot help being an animal.
It is nearly impossible for anyone in this new, advanced stage of mankind’s maturity to be unattached from the old world order. Therefore, as it crumbles, those who remain attached will inevitably become rolled up with it as a new world order is rolled out.
“Put all your beliefs into harmony with science; there can be no opposition, for truth is one,” the Holy Writings continue. “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 which will sweep before it all wars, disagreements, discords and struggles, Only then will mankind be united in the power of the Love of One God (However we 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!”
