It is becoming more and more clear
to me all the time that we need to ask ourselves one question and then live out
the answer as consistently as we can. That question is, "What is the
reason we are alive?" Or said
another way, "What is the point of our life?"
We can give the easy Protestant
answer of, "To glorify God and enjoy him forever", but the self-centered
nature of that answer and its vagueness don't really guide us anywhere.
The Orthodox answer is much more
difficult to do, thus a more comprehensive and foundational means are required.
We recognize our fallen nature, our tendency toward sin and the corruption of
our darkened souls, thus we see the need to make life a continual movement of
confession and repentance. We by no means see our sinfulness in its entirety.
That would be too much for any man.
So what is the point of our
life? What is the reason we are
alive? Each of us has to answer that
question, be honest with our answer and change our thinking if need be. As
Christians, we ought to have the standard of Scripture within Holy Tradition.
If we find ourselves thinking or acting contrary to that truth, we really must
change. If we feel we cannot, then we
must seek help from someone older and wiser, probably a priest or a monk.
Others will see in us things that we cannot see. We need to give these
observations consideration.
So what is the point of our lives? Let it be holiness as defined by the Church
and then act on it.
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