~.*Credo in Deum, patrem omnipotentem, creatorem caeli et terra*.~

Sunday, July 06, 2008

*[[ What Are You Living For? ]]*

I was talking to my friend about the story 'Kite Runner' one day. After I read the book, for a few seemingly insane moments, I felt that I actually wanted to be in the position of the little Afghan child in the streets, where all they needed to care about was their survival, their immediate family like parents and siblings (if they had any), and to treasure that one or two friends they had in their lives. And they need not care about falling into the trap of being materialistic and always chasing achievement after achievement and trying to be well-liked among their circles of friends (whether or not the friendships are deep).

I thought her response would be something like: why would you want to be the Afghan kid? The grass is always greener on the other side... and I'm sure if you were in Afghanistan, you'd rather live a life where your survival needs are all met... Because with your survival needs being met, in fact you can live an even more meaningful life by just guarding yourself against being materialistic and all the worldly stuff.

But to my surprise her response was: (paraphrased) why would you want to be the Afghan kid? Why are you living to try to survive? I mean, what are you trying to survive for?

Then it really stunned me...her question really made me think. In the case of the Afghan child, what's the point of struggling to survive...to die at the end of his life? might as well die now? why survive to die?

Similarly, it got me thinking about my own life and in fact everyone else's lives. What's the point of trying to live my life day after day to study hard to earn more money to live another day...another year...to die at the end of my life? might as well die now? why survive to die?

I'm not trying to sound suicidal but if you don't know what you are living for or are living for all the wrong reasons, it is suicidal.

Do you live for riches? Do you live for friends or friendship? Do you live for family? Do you live your life for the 'experience of life'...and really what are you going to do about this experience? Maybe be happy and satisfied about it, die and call it 'life'? Do you live for your happiness and satisfaction? Do you live for yourself? Do you live?

Here's what my friend wrote on his blog: the finishing line is what makes the marathon meaningful.

Why are you running the marathon for? What are you living for?

~.*hUiYiNg*.~ says Amen. @ | Sunday, July 06, 2008

~.* Jesus is LOVE *.~