How Should We Live?

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless. — Ecclesiastes 2:10 A, 11A

What keeps us on the good path? Perhaps what we are doing is what we are called to do, but our goal and purpose is wrong. Ask yourself what drives you — the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things or are we responding to a call to “come follow me.”

It is also easy to lose sight of the initial goal of our labors. For example, when I began to write my first novel I simply wanted write a good story, one that provided a little insight into the human condition and yet entertained. But it is easy to fall into the trap of wanting more, first publication, then commercial success, maybe even a movie and before one knows it you can forget the original goal. I enjoy writing, I enjoy the process and it gives me an opportunity to talk about the themes of Judgment, Prejudice, Loyalty, Forgiveness, and Betrayal. In doing so, I hope I am helping and entertaining others and following a call. If I allow the worldly measures of success to dominate, I am quickly losing my way once again. Forgive me for sharing a little self lecture.

It is healthy to examine, especially during meditation, to ask yourself what drives you. Is it love of the worldly or love of God. The end may not be mutually exclusive, but the means sure can be.