Life. Such a simple word, yet it encapsulates the entirety of our existence. What is it truly? A fleeting moment? An eternal struggle? A divine gift? Philosophers throughout history have grappled with this profound question, offering diverse and often poetic perspectives.
Hans Christian Andersen saw life as a “fairy tale, written by God’s finger,” a whimsical and enchanting journey. Robert Browning, with a more pragmatic outlook, believed it to be “probation and the earth is not the goal, but the starting point,” a testing ground for something greater (I Iike that). Thomas Carlyle offered a poignant reflection, describing life as “a little gleam of time between two eternities,” a brief and precious spark in the vast expanse of existence. Goethe, echoing a sense of immortality, viewed life as “the childhood of our immortality,” a stage of growth and preparation for a grander existence.
And then there’s Shakespeare, the Bard himself, who famously declared, “Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”…kinda depressing Bill. Henry Thoreau, in contrast, found solace in a simpler view, likening life to “a stroll upon the beach,” a leisurely and contemplative journey along the shores of existence.
These and others, offer a glimpse into the many ways humans have tried to explain the meaning of life. What does Merriam Websters Dictionary say life is?
Life:
1a: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
c: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2a: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual.
Definitions provide a scientific framework, however, they don’t fully capture the essence of the human experience. For those who find faith in a higher power, the Scriptures say many things. Job, grappling with suffering, likened life to “sparks that fly upward,” fleeting and ephemeral. Isaiah, the prophet, compared it to a “flower that fades” and “grass that withers,” focusing on its transient nature. And James, the apostle, vividly described life as “even a vapor or mist, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away,” highlighting its fleeting quality.
Ultimately, the meaning of life remains a deeply personal and elusive concept. It is an journey of exploration, a quest for purpose, and a constant process of self-discovery and evaluation of our past. It can be a hope for the future or a dread of its ultimate end. Whether we find solace in philosophy, science, faith, or a combination of all three, one certainty remains: life is a precious gift, and its end is inevitable. As we navigate this journey, we should try to live with intention, to cherish our time. Time is made up of “moments” and in those moments we need to find meaning. Those small and often very short pieces of time and experience in every day that make up this extraordinary existence added all together are the gift of life as a whole.
The book of the Bible that is almost entirely about the meaning of life is the book of Ecclesiastes. We cannot be dogmatic about who wrote it but most scholars believe it was King Solomon. If you know anything about Solomon in the Bible he is described as the richest and wisest man that every lived. He also experienced everything the world system has to offer; 700 wives and 300 concubines, palaces made out of gold, horses chariots. He also indulged in all the delicacies the world had to offer; food drink and whatever else was available to man. The Preacher (probably Solomon) ultimately concludes that true meaning in life can only be found in “fearing God,” which is not quaking in your boots fear, but in the Hebrew means a deep reverence and obedience towards God. Rather than seeking meaning through worldly pursuits which are ultimately futile and meaningless “under the sun” the man who had everything says God is the meaning of Human life…that is who and what we are here for and should live for, because in the next life we will know him face to face and understand He made us for Himself to enjoy, and in that we will be totally full of meaning and complete.