My Dear Beautiful Friend:
You know who you are. I hope this letter reaches you (in more than just a physical way). We have known each other for a very long time; it’s funny you and I are very different and yet there is a depth to our friendship that time and distance (even if we are in different sides of the world) has not weakened.
I know that right now you have hit rock bottom; I am not a big fan of when people say “I understand.” However, I want to tell you that in your case “I understand.” I know what it is to invest in something and lose it due to circumstance beyond your grasp. I understand the pressure of “expectation.” I understand the stress caused by our up-bringing and our culture. I understand when society puts a lot of pressure on us both emotionally and even spiritually. You know what I am talking about.
Recently you made the following comments: “Why is life worth living?” “There is so much pain, why do people want to live?” “If I die today nothing will change.”
I asked some of my own friends and these were some of their answers:
“What about the other side? The beauty, the laughter, the love? And what about the opportunity to bring that to the people that don’t see it or feel it? How can I leave this place better than I found it? And, of course, God and His plan for my life. My life is not my own. ”
“I guess I would start with reminding them of the people that love them. That by dying you would be putting them through so much more pain. Also, point out the good. Try to get them to find the good. Make a list. 1000 good things.”
“It looks like what you are missing is hope, hope for the future”
“To glorify God and enjoy Him and His creation.”
I couldn’t agree more and so I want to give you my answer (which is very similar to theirs):
I live my life to glorify God. I live my life to have conversations with as many people as I can, and to love as much as I can. I live my life to share the truth (the Good News) to the world, in the hope that I will help grow and make deep bonds with my Christian family. I will see them again in heaven; I will be able to play, laugh and be merry (maybe eat some guacamole) with them in the presence of God. I live my life to love and serve others because my life is a gift.
I know you also asked me “What is THE meaning of life?” I don’t have the answer.
There is a movie I like in which a highly evolved civilization creates a supercomputer to calculate the meaning of life, the universe and everything else. After 7 million years the computer told them the answer. The meaning of life, the universe, and everything is else is…42.
The Bible doesn’t say “The meaning of life is….” However, the more I thought about it, I don’t think there is a solid answer for that. I think the meaning of life is something that varies between individuals and is tied to our relationship with our Creator.
I would imagine that different people will answer that question differently, some might say to LOVE, others to LEARN, and other to STEWARD, etc. My meaning of life is HOPE.
There is a lot of pain now and there will be a lot of pain in the future; however, my life has meaning because I have hope for the future. My life has meaning because I hope that I will gain wisdom, see beautiful sunrises, have quality time with my husband and become a strong woman (I could really just go on and on). Most importantly, my life has meaning because I have hope that when I die, I will be in the presence of God.
My friend, you are loved not just by me but by a lot of other people. You have (maybe without realizing) changed and touched so many lives not just here in the U.S. but across the world. My biggest prayer for you is that you find HOPE. I think only then you will find the meaning of your life, and why life is worth living even if there is pain.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
—Romans 15:13
Love Milo
PS. I found this little gem, I hope it gives you some guidance. http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm
