What makes a life meaningful? I thrash this out every day without an answer. Are we each born with a particular role to play, some important and unique goodness to offer the world, a vital and irreplaceable gift to this place and time? Is it a natural result of our daily faithfulness or must we work to bring it about? Can we see it in action or is it hidden? If that remains a mystery to us, does faith call us to keep looking or to let it go? What do I tell my aching heart as it faces disappointment day after day in finding meaning, usefulness, purpose?
Do I try to make a few small contributions carry the weight of a whole life lived? Does 24 hours of eating, cleaning, sleeping, thinking, and doing my job find its meaning in giving someone a brief smile mid-afternoon. It seems like a huge investment for a very small outcome, something a cat video could do as easily, and for the benefit of thousands, not just one. If the world is no better for my living in it, then why am I still here?
I wash the dishes and what does that accomplish? I will be in the exact same place after the next meal, a sink full of plates and silverware. Like one more step on the gerbil wheel, I shop, cook, eat, wash, sweep, water the plants, feed the dogs, shower, driving the wheel through one more cycle and the major result is being one day closer to death. Being faithful feels more like meaningless drudgery, like digging holes and refilling them, than it feels like usefulness. Sure my muscles are being strengthened, but to what end… to dig more holes?
In the meantime, the world oozes with needs, and I have gifts to offer that are log-jammed behind closed doors. I only see one option–give a short smile to my next customer.
I share these thoughts to offer to others my honest struggles, not to offer answers, which I often do not find. It is the sharing that I hope encourages others to know they are not alone.
Janathan Grace Reflections 
Read Ecclesiates! LOL! ALSO, 1 Corinthians 13 – We are nothing without love even if we have GREAT things to offer! There are answers! Hang on to your FAITH in Jesus which is really the test we all go through! People are looking for answers…don’t withhold TRUTH FROM THEM!
Thank you J.