No Greater Answer
A number of years ago The editors of “Life Magazine” compiled an inspiring collection of essays in answer to their question, “What is the meaning of life?” From more than 25 countries, 200 poets, scientists, philosophers and just “everyday people” shared their vision of the meaning of life. The following essays are just a small sampling from this life-enriching collection. The first is from Capetown South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu who wrote, in part:
The evolution of the world is a great manifestation of God. As scientists understand more and more about the interdependence not only of living things but of rocks, rivers — the whole of the universe — I am left in awe that I, too, am a part of this tremendous miracle. Not only am I a part of this pulsating network, but I am an indispensable part. It is not only theology that teaches me this, but it is the truth that environmentalists shout from the rooftops. Every living creature is an essential part of the whole. Our surroundings are awesome. We see about us majestic mountains, the perfection of a tiny mouse, a newborn baby, a flower, the colors of a seashell. Each creature is most fully that which it is created to be, an almost incredible reflection of the Infinite, the invisible, the indefinable. All women and men participate in that reflected glory. We believe that we are in fact the image of our Creator. Our response must be to live up to that amazing potential — to give God glory by reflecting His beauty and His love. That is why we are here and that is the purpose of our lives.
The next essay was written by renowned Grammy-winning composer and recording artist Quincy Jones, a portion of which I will read:
In 1974 I was blessed to have survived a brain aneurysm and two brain operations. It is unfortunate, but sometimes it takes a life-threatening crisis such as this to get your undivided attention, and this certainly did. I was given the opportunity to renew my basic belief in the importance of [...]
Stories you can use...
We've go a million of them (well, almost).
Preaching
A little boy was in the back yard when his father walked up and noticed the kid was building something. “What are you building?” he asked his son. The boy whispered to his dad, “I’m building a Church.” “Why are you whispering?” asked the father. The youngster said, “Because everybody’s asleep!”
Kindness
Have you seen a kindness shown? Pass it on! ’Twas not given to you alone! Pass It on! Let it travel down the years, Let it wipe another’s tears, Till in heaven the deed appears, PASS IT ON! Burton, H.
Children
One day in early Fall, a class of second-graders was asked by their teacher what they wanted to be when they grew up. The teacher got the usual answers from most of the pupils: a doctor, a fireman, an actress, a police officer, an astronaut. One little boy sat quietly, giving no indication of his future vocation. “What about you, Charlie,” the teacher said. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The boy shrugged. “Gee,” he said, “I don’t even know what I want to be for Halloween yet!” “Sales Upbeat” (adapted).
Lies
Texans love to tell a story that begins with this question: “Did you know that George Washington originally came from texas?” Then they go on to explain that the Washington family originally lived on a Texas ranch and that one day George cut down his father’s favorite cherry tree. “Did you do this,” George’s father asked. “Father, I cannot tell a lie, I did it,” George replied. Whereupon, his father said, “Any boy who cannot tell a lie cannot be from Texas.” So they moved to Virginia.
More