A Meaningful Life

"Rejoice with those who rejoice," the Bible tells us, "and mourn with those who mourn" (Rom. 12:15).

In my work as a paediatrician, it is not unusual for me to do both on the same day; now rejoicing with the parents of a healthy newborn baby, and a short while later, you may find me grieving with the parents who have just lost their child.

Life's like that. We must learn to laugh and cry on the same day. Life is a collage of sweet and bitter experiences. We can’t wait till all is well before we smile - that would be futile because it will never be ‘all’ right in this world.

Nor should we drown in the depths of gloom, for even in the darkest hour, there is always a glimmer of hope. Consider Jesus. Even on the cross, he was able to endure the suffering for the joy that was set before him. (See Heb 12:2). Even in the agony of the darkest hour, joy was not far from our Master.

So, whether we like it or not, life is a bed of roses - with thorns and all. We must learn, like Job, to receive from the Lord both good and trouble. In happiness, we should be thankful to God for all his good gifts. In trouble and distress, we should trust him all the more and hold on tight to him. As James tells us, Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

With God, joy is exceedingly joyful, while sadness, though still painful, is more bearable. That’s why Peter tells us to cast all our cares on our Father, knowing that he cares for us. On the other hand, without God, being alone, sadness leads to despair, and even ‘joy’ is mere folly.

I pray that we may learn to live ‘Coram Deum’ – in the conscious presence of God - to walk with him, hiding in the shadow of the Almighty. Let the invisible hand of Providence lead wherever God wills – in green pastures or through the valley of the shadow of death. The one thing that really matters is the comforting presence of God in every step of the way. 

That is a life worth living; that is the only life that makes sense.