Fulfilled

There are times when life seems like an arbitrary quest. We scramble to find someone that makes us feel fulfilled, for a philosophy or a job that gives us purpose, and then get trapped into wondering what the point of all this will be in the end. We can't fill inner voids with social media, no matter how we try. Neither money nor luxuries offer comfort, just empty, elaborate want. Even our age of information can foster more doubt than enlightenment, more obsession than satisfaction, the magnitude of websites and opinions online absolutely staggering. If all these worldly things don't give life enough meaning, what will? How do we find direction, reach fulfillment, and finally rest easy?  

Luckily, God tells us exactly what matters and what we should center ourselves on. He even put it at the very beginning where we cannot miss it: Genesis! 

I encourage you to read through Genesis 1. Soak in all of the things that God created during those first seven days. Then compare all of those pieces to your daily life. How much time do you spend out in the land He formed, among plants, animals, and people? Are you trying to inform yourself more with dead, unliving things than God-breathed, Spirit-filled Creation? 

Have you ever poured into people, sucked in fresh air outside of the city, or meditated on the song of birds, and felt awakened from a busy, sleep-walking existence?

Considering this rattled me to the core -- in the most positive way. I've always loved hiking, soaking up the sun, sleeping under the stars, taking care of animals, admiring plants, and spending quality time with friends and family. More times than not, such experiences encourage me. They afford me a spiritual connection I cannot find anywhere else. They make me feel fulfilled. As it turns out, this is a Biblical reaction, because the key difference between the richness of God-made things and the vanity of human-made things is the Holy Spirit. 

As it says in Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV), "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." All the natural things that God made, from plants to people, were nurtured with His own Spirit. Everything from rocks to atoms and cells are infused with Him! Even though God enabled humanity to create things such as technology, that was not one of the essential things He breathed. It is not riddled with the Spirit. He may use it for our good and His glory, but it is not made of Him. 

Please, for the love of the Spirit woven into every one of us, do not turn away from God's Creation. Even if you can't escape every single day into the middle of the woods, make a point of loving and serving others. Walk mindfully upon the earth by practicing sustainable habits. Look out onto sunny days and rainy days alike to see God's active vibrancy. And when you wonder what your purpose is in this life, seek not the empty creations of humanity, but connect with what is Spirit-charged. Our Creator placed His mark within us for a reason: to multiply His beautiful goodness and leave us fulfilled.