What is life about?

Ecclesiasticus 27:30--Resentment and anger, these are foul things to, and a sinner is a master at them both.


Matthew 5:5--Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.


What is life about? In the past 6 months or so I have had a couple friends and a couple relatives pass away. That was the reason for my earlier blog about Death. But these deaths have also gotten me to think about life. What is it all about?

In the grand scheme of things, our life is very very short. If you are an evolutionist, our life is minuscule compared to the billions of years since the moment of creation. If you are a creationist, our life is still small since the moment of creation. Regardless, our time on this planet is short. And our time on this planet can end at any time.

So, what is life about? Ask anyone and they will have a different answer. Every religion has a different answer, and atheist have their own. This is my answer.

To be a good person. To live my life the best that I can. To grow. Be kind, not angry. To love anyone that comes into my life whether they deserve it or not. To love God. To follow the teachings of Jesus. To try to leave the world a better place as much as I can. Do no harm. Care for animals. Spread my faith. Care for friends. Honor my parents. Be a good brother, uncle, cousin, friend. Hopefully, be a good father one day. Say kind things even if kinds things are not said to me. Do kind things even if kind things are not done to me.

I do not think life is about accumulating wealth. It is not about being the first at everything. It is not who is best or who has the best stuff. It is about being the best person we possibly can.

Why should we be the best person we possibly can when this life is so short? It is not a fear of God. I do not want to do these things out of fear of going to hell, or purgatory. I want to do these things because it honors God. I am not perfect, I am flawed, but I also try to be humble. I do not want to do these things to earn God's Grace, or earn God's love. We already have these things, it is what we do with them is what matters. God loves us unconditionally and all that we do honors God. What if we do something bad? Then you are hurting God, but he still loves us. God never gives up on us, it is us who gives up on God.

That last sentence struck me as I wrote it. With the deaths recently, I never gave up on God. The more I write here the more I think that God knows I am hurting. I miss Cliff, David, Kerry and Gerald. I miss them all terribly. But I do know that all 4 of them are in a better place. Why do I continue to hurt, it is because I miss them. But I must remember that I have a good life. I have people in my life that do care for me, and I have people in my life that I do care about. I have hurt some in the past and recently, but it was not intentional. For that, I am sorry. And for those that have hurt me, I forgive you. I hope those that I have hurt can do the same.

The title of this blog is "Growing in my Christianity" so how does this relate to that title. Many year ago if this same rash of deaths would have occurred, I do not think I could have handled it. With my strengthening belief in God, I know that this is only a part of our life on this planet. We should be the best person we can be, and that is to follow Jesus Christ. If you are not a believer, just read his teachings and you will understand his message is not for just people 2000 years ago, it is a message that will echo forever.

I am not in the Christian camp that says God has a "plan". I do believe that God knows all and sees all. He is outside of our time. He is in the past, present and future, so naturally God knows what is going to happen before it happens. But, it is our choices, through the gift of Free-Will that only humans truly have, what we do. We make our own choices, our own decisions, God just knows about them ahead of time. He nudges us, gives us hints, gave us the Word made Flesh to follow and obey. We are to make the most of this world and be the best person we can possibly be.

James 1:20-God's saving justice is never served by human anger.
Matthew 18:34-35--And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.
Wisdom 15:1--But you, our God, are kind and true, slow to anger, governing the universe with mercy.

Peace
Dirk