I wrote a paper in college, attempting to establish and prove a biblical basis for purpose and meaning in life. I received a good mark, but I realized that it's easier to define the meaning of life than it is to find meaning in life.
The premise for my paper was built upon the 2 great commandments that Jesus gave. He said that we should love God with all of our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36 – 40). Life becomes purposeful and meaningful when focus is removed from oneself and placed upon the nature of our Heavenly Father and the needs of our fellow man. But does it work? 95-year-old Connie Vitolo says it does.
Until recently, Connie didn't care whether she lived or died. Her failing health required that she leave her own beloved home and move in with her daughter and she was not at all pleased. She prayed frequently and fervently that she would die.
Anne, Connie's daughter was praying with equal zeal. Concerned for her depressed mother, she prayed, "I'm putting it all in Your hands God and trusting You that you're gonna help her..to find her purpose here."
One day Anne found an ad looking for volunteers to make and send blankets to orphans in India. She prayed one more time and then shared this need with her mother.
Connie caught the vision and reengaged in something that she hadn't done for years...crocheting blankets. She has spent the past year crocheting blankets for orphans halfway around the world. At last count, Connie had completed 12 blankets and has started on her 13th. In an interview with Christian Broadcast News in late July Anne said that God has answered her prayer and her mom knits joyfully all day long without getting tired.
Connie's prayer request to die has changed dramatically. In the aforementioned CBN interview, she says that before starting a blanket, "I pray to Jesus, and I thank Him every day. When I start one I say, thank you Jesus, don't let me die before I finish my blanket." She says that she wishes she could hug the orphans, but knows that her blankets are embracing them. She adds "Jesus has a purpose for us all. But I never thought He had a purpose like this for me and I'm very happy..."
Crawling into and curling up inside of our own smallness and misery will always drain meaning and dispel purpose from our lives. As someone has wisely stated, people wrapped up in themselves make a pretty small package. Relationship with the Heavenly Father and reaching out to others, as Jesus taught, is both invigorating and fulfilling.
"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me..." (Psalm 138:8).
Pastor Ross Helgeton Lead Pastor – Erskine Evangelical Free Church Phone: 403 – 742 – 5020 Email: revrh@telus.net