Have any of you seen the movieThe Dead Poets Society, with Robin Williams? Spoiler alert, it has a sad ending. However, it's worth watching if you haven't. This movie helps to encourage the boys at the school to speak their minds, to open themselves up to thought and feeling and embrace life, which is difficult to do in our busy, hard-working world today.
We looked at this poem in class today and had to take the chance to analyze it, here it is for you now (By Walt Whitman):
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? Answer.That you are here—that life exists and identity,That the powerful play goes on, and you may Contribute a verse.
It is originally talking about literature, and how one needs to think outside the box, and contribute your own true verse. I interpreted it as a different Meaning. There is a man questioning his life, questioning his importance in life and the meaning of life in general. he doesn't know what his significance is. he then is given an answer, either from himself, or from God, saying that there is significance, the fact that you're living now proves there is a meaning in life, for you to contribute to the world, to have an impact on others, "to contribute a verse" within society.
In today's Psalm, we are told to give sacrifice, yet even if we don't, God will still love us. We should delight to do God's will, and give praises to God because we want to, because we realize all the good we have in our life, that no amount of praise could ever make up for all God has given to each of us. Even in the toughest times, God has blessed us, even if it is merely the challenge for us to become stronger in faith and guidance, so to guide others into faith. So the next time you question the meaning of your life, what your purpose is, remember all the blessings God has given you, and that you have been given the task through baptism to give the same blessing, the same love to others, and that is a goal if ever there was one.
Today's prayer is by Tamara Lebak, a prayer for purpose:
Holy One,
You who dwells within and among us,
Let us remember the blessings of purpose that we have received throughout our livesWhen the Fire of our soul burned brightlyThose moments of clarityWhen our direction felt in line with a greater purposeWhen the doors of opportunity were easy to seeAnd even easier to open
Those moments of clarity when even strangers felt like family.
We ask this day to have that clarity of Spirit come forth into our lives again with the power of a mighty wind,Opening the horizons of our hearts and mindsTo that inner fire which burns inside us all.
May we be inspired this day to sing out praise of this glorious life in a language beyond the power of speech, in a language of actionSo that our lives might be a beacon of justice and loveAnd the world might know hope through our story, our song, our steps taken.
We ask this day that our inner fire burn brightly with compassion and courage and loveFor whatever number of days ahead are still ours to claim.
These and the many prayers of our hearts we pray now in the silence.
Amen
