Hello. I want to talk to you, about you. Lets talk about life - yours and mine, and what we have in common. Have you given this much thought? Can you share with me your ideas on the great question - Why life?

You remember the basic questions, “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” “What is the purpose of life?”

Is life more than just survival for our short time on earth? Is it only to be comfortable while we are here? Are you getting what you truly want from life? Are you secure, content and comfortable? Are you sure you know what you want from life? Are you willing to talk to me about these ideas?

Because we have a great deal in common, I already know much about you, so we have a place to begin our acquaintance. You are so unique and there is much about you that I don’t know and want to hear later. For now, let’s start with what I do know about both of us.

Like me, you were given the breath of life and dropped into the world. We were not exactly on our own. We were given protection, support and guidance. That came from parents, friends, and teachers. Along with it came some love, but often it came with stern direction and correction that would make us feel inferior. Sometimes we were embarrassed and felt almost worthless. Those were sad times that damaged our self-image in lasting ways.

So, we’ve had some bumps in our road of life. Not all the treatment we received was either loving or gentle. We have experienced some unfriendly people. A few were almost enemies. The result is that many things happened to each of us that we don’t want repeated.

Maybe we would like to remember only the good events, if we could only dwell on those. But those don’t seem to be our key memories. The mistreatments, disappointments and unhappinesses that blotched the happiness we wanted stand out too much. Many of those negatives happened to us in our youth, when our memories remain most vivid.

So there we were, always hoping for the best, yet too often getting the opposite. Too soon, we learned the life we wanted to be “happy ever after” included much unhappiness. Some pains were more lasting than others. Some of us have suffered from unhappiness that just keeps clinging.

In our youth, we had to take it like it came. So we thought, “That is just the way life is.” Now, looking back we can ask, “Why did that happen to me?Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

Following like a shadow is the next question. “What can I do to keep this from happening again? How can I manage to live life that is so full of uncertainty? How can I escape from the recurring pain, problems and unhappiness of life?”

As youngsters, we heard about luck and tokens. We believed and practiced superstitions. When our rituals and incantations failed, we drifted into a sort of fatalism. See-sawing from optimism to pessimism, according to our present circumstances, we decided life is beyond our control.

What a trap. We were always responsible for our acts and their results, but we lacked the power to direct life’s events. Struggling to know what to do and make right choices was our daily toil.

No one seemed to appreciate the extent of our efforts. Fate, uncontrolled random chance, was our only explanation of life’s events. Then we learned the word luck, and used it often.

Along with powerlessness came loneliness. Who really cared about our needs and feelings? Where was the person who would stand with us in all our experiences? Was there anyone who would rejoice when we rejoiced and weep when we wept? Was there anyone who could understand our feelings? Those we trusted most often fell short of our expectations.

We knew we were always on our own, responsible not only for self, but also for all those who depended on us. Looking out for ourselves, while catching any pleasure coming our way, became our normal way of life. Grabbing for immediate happiness was our main goal in every situation. It was our philosophy of life.

No one told us there is a power that can order our lives and show us its meaning. We were about the power that can give us the heart-clutching joy we know we want and need.

So we continued our fruitless search for peace, joy, and contentment through hobbies and recreations.

Unknown to us, our primary need for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control was written into our genes from the day we were conceived. A life experiencing and expressing these emotions is our heritage. But, we didn’t know that either. Why haven’t we understood this? How have we missed continually enjoying it?

What is the secret of being free from fear and anxiety while knowing the peace, power, self-assurance, and contentment of an abundant life? How do we learn about a life of plenty, in which all our needs - emotional and material - are met? And more, how can we achieve it?

What would such a life be called? Could it be called heaven on earth? Who will show this to us? Who can demonstrate it as real and possible?

Only God can assure us of the better life. Only God can give it. The first problem is believing He can do that act of grace. The next problem is believing He can do that act of grace for “me.” When we work by those two problems, one large one remains. How do I get Him to do it for me?

GOD 101 attempts to show each seeker the way to His Way. Only God Himself can show you how much He loves you. Only He can give you these spiritual gifts He reserved for you from the beginning of time.

If you want to talk some more, write to:
Chaplain@christian-community.org
I have the time if you do.