What makes life meaningful?

I posed the above question on facebook and received a few interesting replies.

Paulin Tan

If, throughout the course of my life, I can manage to positively influence another's life or ... bring up a brood of kind, compassionate and good kids who can help make the world a better place.

Norma Sit

Knowing God. Life itself. Family. Work.

Michelle Yu

When I make the best out of everything, appreciate and remain a thankful heart through seasons of life- be it an up or a down. From there, impact others positively and that they will be able to see this grace I carry through my life this far, that 1st comes from God.

Paul Messal

Obedience and Love.

Daniel Lim

Purpose beyond one's self.

Jennifer Lee

People and revelation through conversation about the LORD

Antony Mark Brown

Knowing our identity in God; which gives me purpose and identity. This gives me meaning.

Andrew Goh Hwee Liang

Is when we know what we can do for God.

It is quite interesting to see how different we are as men and women in our understanding of life. Men generally place their meaning on what they do and women on relationships. Notice how we men use words like "purpose" and "do". Women use "influence", "knowing", "appreciate", "conversation".

That's the beauty of gender difference. We both bring a richness that completes the picture. We need though to forge a clear theology of who He is. Meaning in life is both "doing" and "being". I for one think that meaning in life is really about firstly knowing that you are loved. Remember when you first fell head over heels in love with this amazing person? Remember when you woke up every morning after that filled with a sense of purpose? That was a teaser to how we can fall in love with God and be filled with meaning in and for life.

Someone said it is a settled conviction of how much God loves us. Meaning becomes clear when we know we are loved! That must be the starting point before we can make any sense out of life!