"A strong sense of meaning is what motivates us to get out of bed each morning and confront another day and all its uncertainty... it makes life more of an adventure."
(The Search for Meaning, 1994, Naylor, Willimon & Naylor)
If Dr. Viktor Frankl is right, and I think he is, the search for meaning is the deepest longing of every human being. Dr. Frankl suggested three avenues for discovering meaning: (1) something to do; (2) someone to love; and (3) suffering with courage and dignity. You might need to know that he was a survivor of several Nazi concentration camps during World War II, arrested and imprisoned simply because he was a Jew. He lost his wife, his parents, a brother, and many friends in the death camps. He came close to death many times himself. His book, Man's Search for Meaning, remains one of the best selling books of all time, and has been translated into over 30 languages. It is one of my all-time favorites as well. I've read it 2-3 times every year since 1978, just to help me keep my perspective on life. I encourage you to read it. My plan here is to start posting some blogs about these three avenues to meaning. As a Christian, Jesus speaks to me in each of these areas, and gives me the deepest meaning of all: abundant and eternal life (John 3:16; John 10:10)! Please share how you have found meaning in your life; and, as I share how I've found meaning in mine, we'll join in the quest together!
(The Search for Meaning, 1994, Naylor, Willimon & Naylor)
