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It is a paradox of our modern age that, although we have more knowledge and material possessions than at any other time in history, we sense a lack of purpose in life. A gnawing hunger for the meaning of life pervades our world.
Harvard historian and author Oscar Handlin describes this lack of direction and meaning: "At some point, midway into the twentieth century, Europeans and Americans discovered that they had lost all sense of direction . . . Wandering in the dark, men and women in all Western societies, stumbling blindly along, strained unavailingly for glimpses of recognizable landmarks" ("The Unmarked Way," American Scholar, summer 1996, p. 335).
That we find ourselves stumbling down the path of uncertainty is ironic. Our meanderings in the spiritual wilderness occur at a time when mankind has made many impressive gains. The quality of life is generally improved. Life expectancy has increased almost everywhere. The portion of the world's population ruled by the fist of despots is shrinking. Though far from eradicated, the curse of poverty casts a smaller shadow.
Yet humanity is troubled. We are plagued with a sense of drift and aimlessness. Counselors Muriel James and John James describe it this way: "A universal hunger pervades the world. It is the hunger to get more out of life . . . to be more involved, and to find more meaning" (Passion for Life, 1991, p. 7).
One reason people hunger is they lack a sense of transcendent purpose. They don't have the understanding that God is involved with mankind and that He has a plan for us. To be at peace, human beings must realize what God has in mind for them.
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