And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:4-11
Dear God, there is this interesting fine line we walk in this life, and I think maybe it comes down to a simple concept: meaninglessness/meaningfulness. I watched a movie last night that seemed to revolve around this idea. Everything, Everywhere, All at Once was an interesting look at what people use to find meaning in this world. Now I would say that the lesson of Job is that the only real meaning for our lives is serving you. It’s about being in relationship with you and then being used by you in the world. That’s where I find my meaning and where I find my peace. You are my God, and I worship you.
What I saw in the movie last night was a lot of meaninglessness and despair. I’m not sure any of the characters knew what they were living for. Frankly, it was hard to watch. And even the resolution at the end didn’t really answer the meaninglessness question. Maybe that’s why I didn’t like it as much as everyone else did. By the end, it felt like they got past the bad hump in front of them, but I am not sure anything really changes.
I was talking recently with a friend who is having marital issues. He went through a separation from his wife recently, the reconciled and things were in a honeymoon phase for a while, but now they seem to be settling into their old, pre-separation patterns again. It makes me think of the U2 song, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
Father, beyond anything else in my life, I really do find my peace in you. I find my meaning in you. You’ve given me work to do today. And should my life end today, it’s okay because it’s been lived for you and you did with my time here what you wanted. It’s not about my bucket list. It’s not about what I did or didn’t accomplish. It’s about what use I was to you in this whole scheme of time. And some would read this and say how sad it is, but I would counter that those people haven’t put their lives in perspective. In the billions and billions of human lives that have been lived over the thousands or tens of thousands of years, mine is just one. It’s so small. And that’s okay. Because one day I will be one of those souls in heaven, worshipping you. I pray that others I know might find the peace that I’ve found through your love, your grace, your acceptance, and your plan for my life.
I pray this under the authority of my Triune God,
Amen
Emails to God 