For a lot of people, it is sometimes difficult to draw meaning out of their own lives and go beyond their routine and unhappy existence. Life therefore seems irrelevant not only to themselves but even to most people aroundthem. The truthof the matter is that each one’s life is a unique story in itself. Some stories are still waiting to be heard. Some have been wrecklessly exposed. Some have inspiringly been shared. More often these stories are just left untold. However, our concern should be less of whether others will be interested to hear about it or not. It is rather all about believing that every person has the individual power to transform his own life. There is always abetter part of himself that he has not yet experienced.

Regardless of race, belief, gender, or social status, the common fiber that makes us all human is the fact that we are inherently flawed and fallen creatures, perhaps more by choice (because of our original sin) rather than by design. There is undoubtedly a certain degree of “woundedness” in each one of us. We all experience pain, suffering, persecution, despair, fear, anxiety, defeat. On the other hand, there is also a measurable amount of greatness in everyone that manifests itself in our ability to love, to nurture, to give. We all aspire for happiness, seek fulfillment, hope for peace, and dream of success and prosperity.

Have you ever been stirred by the thought that it is partly life’s contradictions that make it beautiful? Why did God create both day and night, not just one or the other? Why must there be evil and not only good? The concept of coexistence presumes that even two opposing forces can exist together and live in peace with each other. Max Ehrmann very truthfully concluded his prose poem Desiderata with these last lines — “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”Simple but true.

There is more beauty in life than what meets the eye. It takes a greater awareness of our inner self, spiritual enlightenment and connection to our Supreme Creator to be able to appreciate life from a perspective that often contradicts that of the world’s. As we journey through our own positive and negative experiences, the challenge is how to fully live God’s purpose and anchor our life on Him who has promised “I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness. (John 10:10)”. Our journey begins today, taking it one step, one dayat a time.