does anyone ever ponder life's meaning? (priests, bible, faith, God)

[DreamWeavin]

Lately I have been thinking it's just too hard. Too much worry. Too much stress. The end result is the same anyway-death.
I've read a lot of books about life after death.
If things are so grand,glorious,worry free and beautiful on the other side; then why are we here?
Is this life pergatory?

[Jason_Els]

Sure do! Then the next morning I awake with a wicked hangover.

[moonsavvy]

For me this life is to expand and strengthen my spiritual bonds with my Creator. To become the "perfect" person that God created me to be. The perfect that I talk about is not without flaw, its to be whole, at one, to be exactly what my God intended me to be. It's an ongoing journey that leads us from one level to the next. It never gets "easy" and it's not suppose to. It's a quest to search within ourselves and find our own truth.

Sure I have times that are hard, but when we are children we experience physical growing pains, just as adults, through trials we experience spiritual growing pains. Both are necessary for us in our human form.

[Cattknap]

You said exactly what I was thinking but you said it beautifully. Thanks for your post!

[june 7th]

Yes, I have. However, one book had a big impact on me: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.

--You might want to check it out, as he addresses exactly what it is you're asking...

[Visvaldis]

Life has no meaning! The only meaning of life is what you decide to put into it.
Religions claim to have all the answers about life. Religion will dangle all sorts of baited hooks in your face, but instead of giving you a meaning for life, you will be demanded to listen to others and obey them (such as priests). If you give in to them you will be required to live in chains and persuaded not to trust your own mind.
Religions have the longest lists of things a person should not do, and the faithful make their own lives boring, so much that death seems like a wonderful deliverance from the boredom of existence.
Keeping pondering the question about life. Some great minds have done the same. They have often been passionately creative by painting, writing, making music, etc. Some have spent their entire lives pondering, while also producing stimulating contributions to civilization.
Go places, meet people, talk to them...you might very well find others who ponder the same things as you. Keep your mind busy. Maybe keep a journal, write your thoughts. Read. The libraries have many books written by people who have pondered the meaning of life.
There is no "one size fits all" meaning of life. The meaning of life is individual.
Good luck.

[DreamWeavin]

I will check out the book. I need soomething right now to inspire me. thanks

Originally Posted by june 7th

Yes, I have. However, one book had a big impact on me: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.

--You might want to check it out, as he addresses exactly what it is you're asking...

[DreamWeavin]

your input is appreciated. thanks

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Life has no meaning! The only meaning of life is what you decide to put into it.
Religions claim to have all the answers about life. Religion will dangle all sorts of baited hooks in your face, but instead of giving you a meaning for life, you will be demanded to listen to others and obey them (such as priests). If you give in to them you will be required to live in chains and persuaded not to trust your own mind.
Religions have the longest lists of things a person should not do, and the faithful make their own lives boring, so much that death seems like a wonderful deliverance from the boredom of existence.
Keeping pondering the question about life. Some great minds have done the same. They have often been passionately creative by painting, writing, making music, etc. Some have spent their entire lives pondering, while also producing stimulating contributions to civilization.
Go places, meet people, talk to them...you might very well find others who ponder the same things as you. Keep your mind busy. Maybe keep a journal, write your thoughts. Read. The libraries have many books written by people who have pondered the meaning of life.
There is no "one size fits all" meaning of life. The meaning of life is individual.
Good luck.

[Pikantari]

Some times I wonder which way is up. I always end up realizing that up is way better....lol I go through the why mes... I do. Then I think, why me, to strenghthen me. I have endured much, and I am being strengthened. For what? That is to come.

Do I yet know what it is? No. But I will. The Lord stregthens me in everything I do.

[kaykay]

Originally Posted by northernexposure

Lately I have been thinking it's just too hard. Too much worry. Too much stress. The end result is the same anyway-death.
I've read a lot of books about life after death.
If things are so grand,glorious,worry free and beautiful on the other side; then why are we here?
Is this life pergatory?

I think if you live long enough, we have all felt that way from time to time. The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible is all about that. I think though as a Christian, my faith gives me hope and meaning to my life. Northernexposure, I don't know what your religious beliefs or lack of them are, but I would encourage you to find your answers in this direction.