flying without wings

I love running. There's something to it that makes it so addictive--and I just can't pinpoint it. Maybe it's the fact that it sets my mind free from all that I care about; maybe it's the fact that it makes me feel weightless; maybe it's the fact that it creates a new world before me, a spinning new vortex of words, images, and feelings. I don't know.

But this I do know: the sense of freedom is all I need to keep going. There's no restraint, no one to tell you that you're failing, no one to tell you that you can't do this or that. Each footstep upon asphalt turns into so much more than a dull rhythm; it sparks memories of memories long lost in my mind to come alive, stirring the imagination once more to build upon and entangle these images in a dancing, swirling haze of mysteries. 
I'm free.
I'm flying.

So wait, what are we here for anyways?

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”

- Aristotle -

          There are countless questions that we face during our time on the earth. The meaning of our existence, no doubt, is the most-often debated and controversial question of all. People have spent their entire lives searching for such a meaning or to simply find a way to make life worthwhile. Like Solomon, many chase after things of this world only for temporary satisfaction yet seeking something that will last, but are repeatedly reminded that again, all is vanity. And just like them, we also chase for things that give us pleasure; we want to find something that can satisfy our desires, something to make us happy. We all want to be happy, don't we?

I think Aristotle's observation on happiness describes the truth about all of mankind quite aptly. There is no goal in life except to satisfy the desires of the heart. The happiness (no matter how temporary it is) of the individual becomes the sole priority. But if we leave it at that, we leave life to become exceedingly selfish. Yes, a lot of people are nice and want to spread the joy, but deep down, we all know that everyone wants to be happy. 

 Well, why not? Being happy is pretty awesome. But I think the difference between Christians and the rest of the world is that although we search for happiness, we don’t spend our entire lives looking for it. We don’t have to spend our lives searching for an answer because frankly we’ve already found it. We’ve been enslaved by our sins and been set free through Christ’s substitutionary death—the greatest gift the world has ever known. We never deserved it. Why then do we go around searching in this world for something that will satisfy when we know that nothing on this earth will ever end up satisfying us? I’m not saying that Christians should abandon a search for happiness; I just think they shouldn’t have to search for an answer in the first place. There’s a lot of joy that can be found outside of the Gospel (and definitely something that God has given to us to enjoy), but the basis of our happiness should be found first and foremost in what Christ has done for us.

My happiness isn’t my meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence; my purpose is to solely glorify Him who reigns above and to live exemplifying the wonders of His glorious Cross. Happiness is just a bonus. :)