Searching for meaning in a world gone mad

What are you looking for? That is a question that follows us around in life. On many occasions, I watch my teenage son make his way out of the lounge, walk directly into the kitchen, heading straight towards the stainless-steel fridge and opening the door.

The light floods his face as he stares with anticipation. I watch as he looks, searching for something but not knowing what, longing for something and waiting for the answer. I ask, “what are you looking for?” and the answer is usually, “I don’t know… something.”

This reminds me of the groundbreaking Irish super-band U2, who sang, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

Those lyrics were repeated in stadiums worldwide as a generation captured a spiritual cry of profound longing.

It is this word longing that Jesus wants to address in our lives. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is found asking, what are you looking for or who are you looking for?

Wayne Cordeiro shares this anecdote: An old story tells of a rabbi living in a Russian city a century ago.

Disappointed by his lack of direction and life purpose, he wandered in the chilly evening.

With his hands thrust deep in his pockets, he aimlessly walked through the empty streets, questioning his faith in God, the scriptures, and his calling to the ministry.

The chill within his soul was the only thing colder than the Russian winter air.

He felt so enshrouded by his own despair that he mistakenly wandered into a Russian military compound off limits to civilians. The bark of a Russian soldier shattered the silence of the evening chill. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?” “Excuse me?” replied the rabbi. “I said, ‘Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

After a moment, the rabbi, in a gracious tone to avoid provoking the soldier, said, “How much do you get paid every day?”

“What does that have to do with you?” the soldier retorted.

With the delight of someone making a discovery, the rabbi said, “I will pay you the equal sum if you ask me those same two questions every day: Who are you? and What are you doing here?”

Although the Russian soldier meant it as a simple question of name and reason for his location, the rabbi opened it to a far more profound question of life and purpose.

I believe we are children of God; this is who we are.

When we realize that, it answers the question of what we’re doing here; our purpose is to do the will of the Father; let that be our anthem.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10.