We Are Nothing More Than Fish On The Shore

One of the very last chapters in Father Fiction is about empathy, but the part that speaks to me the most is about spiritulity. And I love this line:

"What really led me to spirituality was the desire to believe I was human and that being human mattered."

Isn't that what a lot of us are struggling for? That belief that we are WORTH something. That we matter. I know that it's a common thought in my mind. The whole belief that I am just one more person on this overpopulated planet. I don't matter. I mean nothing. If I die today, who will care in ten years? My kids? My husband? But the world won't stop spinning. Books won't be written about me. Everyone will continue on with their lives. And I want them to, but I also would like to think that I meant enough, that I was worth enough that I won't just disappear into dust. But, that's the part of me that is not grasping the infinite life that really matters. When I die here, I won't live on in the minds of others forever. The world will not shake upon my death. Time will not stop. I am nothing more than human. But, the other part of me must remember that my life here is temporary and is not the important element. It's my death that will bring my eternal life, that when I die, what happens on earth isn't important. It's what happens in my afterlife. There will be great celebrations and parties and joy in heaven. That's what matters.

"Sometimes a human life can seem no more meaningful than a fish flopping on a shore. Writhing. Out of its elements. And I would love to tell you that the real problem in life is we believe we are writhing when we aren't, but that's not true. My spirituality, that is Christian spirituality, doesn't tell me to close my eyes and pretend life is beautiful and there are no problems to confront. I'm told, instead, I am out of the water, and if I want't to find water again, I must go in search of a different kind of water. All of us have been washed on the shore. We all have issues, we are all broken. The brokenness we experience, the brokenness that mingles in our DNA, is a kind of fallout from the fall of man. Men and women are made to be in a relationship with God, but because of the fall of man, we aren't."

Purpose of life, the MAIN purpose of life, is not to become famous, or a great political leader, or to write a hundred books, or gain a million friends, or to touch the life of everyone you come in contact with. (Although some people are called to do that and that is what God planned for their life. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just not everyone's calling. And it is not the main purpose.) The main purpose of life is to rebuild that relationship with God, and the death and resurrection of Christ made that possible. It does not matter what you do or do not accomplish in humanly terms; but what matters is your relationship with the Creator.

And, because of various situations, that relationship is easier for some and tougher for others. And trials and temptations shake the foundation and you sometimes question Him, you curse Him, you scream out "WHY?! How could you do this to me? How could you allow this to happen?!" and that's okay. But, remaining strong and focused on building that relationship is what really matters.

"I think we are all looking for this quick fix, but relationships don't work that way. We step into them in faith, and they grow stronger, they change us."

A relationship with God is no exception. It's a leap of faith, but over time, over trials and their resolution, over questions and tears, it becomes a stronger relationship. And, through it, we change for the better.