Have you ever had moments where you pondered the meaning of your life?  Why are you living? Perhaps not.  It is never too late to ponder one of life’s challenging questions. There are various thoughts and theories abounding coming from various theological and philosophical bases.

Growing up in Green Bay, I was clueless about most anything except how the Lombardi-led Packers were doing. I continued my mental vacuousness at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in misunderstanding economics. The highlight of my four years there was singing on stage with Steve Miller and Boz Scaggs.  

And then came the seminary and the study of theology and philosophy.  It was there in St. Paul (how coincidental) that I started my

Damascus “meaning of life” journey. Because we were not allowed to leave the campus more than six hours a week, I had no alternative but to read.  And read I did.  As manager of the bookstore I was able to order books from a variety of perspectives.  This resulted in a needed brain expansion.

One of the books that really awakened me intellectually was Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Viktor Frankl was a Jew locked in a Nazi concentration camp.  Fearing that death could be imminent Frankl developed a positive outlook to bring to his everyday horrific conditions. Such conditions led most inmates to experience “shock, apathy, depersonalization, moral deformity, bitterness, and disillustionment”. Frankl’s outlook developed into what he called Logotherapy. Logos is the Greek word for meaning.  Life must have meaning and if that is so, then all existence has validation. He wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms —  to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances, to choose one’s own way”.

Frankl’s Logotherapy was instrumental in the development of Existentialism. Existentialims is based on the belief that human beings are alone in the world.  This aloneness leads to feelings of meaninglessness which can be overcome only by creating one’s own values and meanings.  We have the power  to create because we have the freedom to choose.  In making our own choices we assume full responsibility for the results and blame no one. This freedom gives us feelings of significance and purpose to carry us through life. Existentialism further believes that although we are essentially alone in the world, we long to be connected to others, but we cannot depend on others for our validation.  Our validation must come from within.

So, dear reader, intellectual being that you are, follow this.  “Je pense, donc je suis” , or “cogito ergo sum”  or “I think, therefore I am”.  Descartes, famous French philosopher, used rational thinking to define who he was.  In a related sense I invite you to analyze what you think about, what you believe, for this defines your existence and how you behave.  

Bottom line here, in pragmatic terms, what gives meaning to your life?  At the end of the day how would you sum up the reason for your existence?  What do you hope to have accomplished? Personally I have enjoyed my personal “search for   meaning” at both a professional level, as well as family connection and responsibility.  It is even symbolized in my ring tone – “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. It reminds me of my chosen role in life, my purpose.

I hope that you have enjoyed this intellectual foray into finding the meaning of your life on this planet.  As the Greek philosopher stated, “the unexamined life is not worth living”.

Dr. Stathas  can be reached at (706) 473-1780. E-mail: Stathas@plantationcable.net.