Searching For Meaning

At one level it’s obvious there’s a Creator-Overseer; but on another, it may be quite remote in many people’s minds. I’d bet the Psychiatrists’ day-planners overflow with patients that ask, ‘who am I…why was I born…what’s my purpose…where do I belong…why am I here’ and a gazillion other inquiries. Too often, we overthink a dilemma when simply surrendering solves the issue. Consider with me for a moment the tiny sparrow and its importance to our Father.

Among the smallest and least valuable birds found in the Middle East are sparrows. Commonly, the price for two sparrows cost one small Jewish coin [farthing] containing four grains of silver. During Jesus’ time on earth, five sparrows were sold for two farthings making them cheaper still. If the poor couldn’t afford a lamb, they offered these little birds for religious sacrifice.

Later, as Jesus walked closely with His disciples, they continually struggled with insecurities and fear. Anticipating anxiety and worry over their lives, Jesus reassured them of God’s omniscient care “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26 NKJV) Too often, we may imagine our paltry lives don’t make a difference in the global scheme of things. Glaringly, Christ proclaims just the opposite. Here’s the thing: we’re priceless, loved, accepted and esteemed; therefore, we have majestic significance. Highly pertinent, we’re the second-most sacred of all creation, God being first (Andrew Wilson- *GodStories*). With that being said, let’s learn from one who experienced true freedom while captivated in horrendous conditions.

Viktor Frankl (1905-1997), Holocaust survivor, Austrian Neurologist and Psychiatrist authored the book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. He states that even in the degradation and abject misery of a concentration camp, he exercised the best liberty of all—the freedom to determine one’s own attitude and spiritual well being. No sadistic Nazi SS guard stole nor controlled Frankl’s ability to decide. They tried repeatedly but could not destroy his will or the inner-life of his soul.

You see friend, you can be robbed of everything but your will. God created us with a free will to choose. Think about it. We can choose to offer God our wills and Jesus did exactly that ‘Not my will, but yours be done’ (Matt 26:39). What an amazing announcement! Finally, to gain meaning we humbly give Jesus complete control over our entire beings, body, soul and mind. Our will becomes His will. Our purpose becomes His purpose “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).