“When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?” (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 40). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I go to a downtown Starbucks and read two newspapers every day. That is my routine and I do it seven days a week. Now I jokingly tell those people going to work on Monday through Friday that I am retired and I am always retired and I never have a day off and it took a lifetime for me to get this job. An older successful business man this morning said that he was looking forward to the day that he could sit in my other chair and not have to go to work. That is what he is looking forward to.

But the first six months of my retirement were very difficult. Not having a significant reason to get up every morning was difficult until I found my purpose or really extended the purpose that I have had in my life. My purpose has been to make a difference every day in some individual, in my community and in the world. I had that all mapped out when I was working but wasn’t sure where it all fit in when I retired. That is where my frustration came in. But my time each day at Starbucks, my writing these blogs at Peet’s, and being a part of Mosaic Hollywood, a church that has a world-wide influence goes toward fulfilling that purpose.

I still have deep meaning in living my life every day. And I am able through that to handle whatever comes my way. The obstacles of life just have a way of helping fulfill purpose. I learn something from the experience that will help me share with someone I am counseling with at Starbucks or write about it on my blogs. I do not waste the experience. I mature from it, live it, and then share it.

Freedom with no purpose in mind didn’t do it for me. Having a purpose does without a doubt. That is where the excitement of life comes from and the ability to bear anything that life throws at me.

Of course that meaning comes from my relationship with Christ. He is the reason why I am alive and He gives me the confidence that I have that He will use me to make a difference in someone’s life every day for His glory. I have not retired from that and I won’t ever. And Heaven is living totlally with purpose, with meaning. That is what it is all about.

So what is the reason why you are alive today?

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