What's the point...?

Over the summer months I am working in a caravan park on the north coast and I recently encountered a woman who seems pretty set-up. She and her husband both owned successful farming businesses which they sold for big money. They are now retired and living comfortably with a lovely caravan here in the park. Yet I have never met anyone in quite as much desperation. She and her husband both suffer from illness, and they are both desperately unhappy, which is evident in their relationship. In our brief conversation she displayed no hope, talking of her death, and on the verge of bursting into tears in front of me. And it isn't the first time. This has happened on several occasions now. She said she wished that she had never given up their farm, stating "what's the point in having all that money?". Her despair bears striking resemblance to Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:2:

"meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless"

 She had worked hard, earned and saved. She had provided for herself a comfortable retirement, yet what is it worth? With death a reality to an elderly woman such as her, money is no help. Money is no good to a broken relationship. In the end all that she has achieved and strived for is meaningless in the face of death.

A few days later I spoke to a friend, also 22 and a graduate. Although he has brains to burn, academic and athletic ability that many are so hungry for, he isn't content to have a comfortable, respectable, well-paid job. Similar to the elderly lady, he has a perspective on life that allows him to see that status, and money are not going to provide meaning to his life. Although he is unwilling to subscribe to the life-course expected of him, he is aware that he currently "has no meaning".
The meaning of life... it's age-old question that we all look to answer. Especially at my stage of life when you have dropped off the 17-year education map that has been set before you, and you start asking "what am I going to do with my life?". Entry into the "real-world" is a daunting prospect. Why am I here? Who am I?

In studying Hebrews one of the key verses that stood out to me was this:

"In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering" (2:10)

"...For whom and through whom everything exists...". Everything exists because of God, and everything exists for God. And it is for this reason that I remain confident in Christ, and unafraid of the path ahead of me. What matters is not my job, or my house, financial situation of relationship status, but God. At this stage I am thankfully that I can say, in the words of Horatio Spafford's beautiful hymn, "whatever my lot - it is well with my soul".

Faith and trust in a creator God is one that is now belittled and discredited by so many as myth and legend, yet it is one that rings true with the souls of many. Confidence in Christ, which brings peace and rest to the soul. One that overcomes every scenario, every factor.

The search for meaning, far from being a cliche, is a real struggle for us all. My fear for so many of the people I know is that unlike the folks I've mentioned in this post, that they aren't ready to consider the temporary nature of the lives we currently lead, and aren't willing to face the questions.

Who am I? What am I living for? What's the point?