181 Final Measurements

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

My question list is coming to an end, Dear Reader, but I cannot stop until I convey these last three of the 12 Meaning Must Haves:

Quality: Is the meaning a quality meaning?

(As I have said before) smarter and better people, more genuine, concerned and caring people than I must have embraced the belief, thinking or action, in the then and now. That, to me, makes a meaning a quality meaning. Millions and millions of high-order thinking people have embraced Christianity for over 2000 years now. I gratefully follow their lead.

Value: Is the meaning valuable?

To be valuable, the meaning must have cost somebody something to believe it at some time. Cost divides the men from the boys every time. And does Christianity cost? Well, you can answer that one for yourself.

Timelessness: Can and does this meaning have applicability to people of any time or place?

I want to invest in meaningfulness that keeps on blessing the person who receives it throughout her/his life and throughout eternity. I want meaningfulness that has blessed, is blessing and will bless, no matter the century or age. And I want meaningfulness that one can take with one when one “goes,” that carries every believer to a worthy consummation of this life experience. I want meaningfulness that was as important for people past as it is for people now and will be for people of tomorrow, no matter how far away and unimaginable that tomorrow is.

As you can see, meaningfulness has to check out all around with me to qualify as meaningful.

I can only discuss life and meaning in terms of Christianity, Gentle Reader. To me, meaning matters in life. Christianity matters in life. Both certainly matter in my life.

And though I do not claim to be entirely free of my airhead predilections, you can rightly assume that I will not be taking up space in this blog for discussions on how to be a great shopper, or how to give the perfect party. Such subjects, though fun, do not suffice. It would be like eating all carbs and no protein. Now that’s a disgusting idea no airhead debutante would ever entertain.

To be continued . . .

180 Measuring Validity and Durability

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

So far, we have covered clarity, reasonableness, faith base, humanity, virtue, rewards, and pragmatism—7 of the 12 Meaning Must Haves. Time for 2 more.

Validity: Is the meaning valid?

That means does the meaning hold up under scrutiny, value assessment and comparison?

The meaning of Christianity has and does ably hold up under examination, has for millennia.

Far greater thinkers and doers than I from past, present or future generations of humankind have affirmed, do, and will affirm the meaningfulness of Christianity; many with the forfeiture of their very life, a clear indication of how greatly they value the “good news” of Christ Jesus.

Now that’s meaningful!

At one point in my father’s young life, his older brother came to help him when he was deathly ill from pneumonia—this is before there was penicillin— and carried him home for family care. In the process, his brother contracted pneumonia and died, while my father lived. This incident grieves my heart every time I consider it, and it certainly grieved my father’s heart. Yet, at the same time, I can’t help but celebrate the ultimate generosity it demonstrates.

Christians believe in saving people, Gentle Reader, even at the risk of their own life.

Durability: Is the meaning durable?

Has it, can it, or will the meaning I am considering endure? The meaning of Christianity has and does endure. It is faithfully recorded history with witnesses and independent corroboration. It is a precious gift to me and all who receive it, and I treasure it.

To be continued . . .

179 Measuring Rewards and Reality

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

Continuing with Implication #4, which involved how to measure meaningfulness or Meaning Must Haves, we move now to Rewards and Pragmatism.

Rewards: Are there rewards in the meaningfulness I choose?

I measure meaningfulness by the standard of rewards—that is, are there any?

For something to be meaningful to me it must have rewards—“good” rewards. Good by the standard of Jesus. I have been promised rewards in Christ Jesus, by right of what He has done and because of my resulting relationship with Him (Ephesians 1-3, NKJV). And I am to have steadfast hope in Jesus. That means I am to consciously hold onto my expectation of reward in Christ Jesus. And I value those rewards in Christ Jesus. Thus if I practice the Christian Way, I expect all kinds of different rewards (Ephesians 4-6, NKJV).

Pragmatism: Is this meaning pragmatic?

To be meaningful to me, any premise must be pragmatic—it must recognize reality and define boundaries and limitations within reality—to me, that’s pragmatic.

Boundaries and limitations both are necessary for our own good and for our protection. Well-defined limits are especially necessary when there is more than one person involved. I’ve been in kindergarten. Not a place to be without clearly defined reality and firmly upheld boundaries and limitations. Christianity is all about self-imposed boundaries, limits and self-control.

To be continued . . .

178 And More

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

Having identified clarity and reasonableness as two measures of Meaning Must-Haves, now it is time for three more.

Faith Base: Is the meaningfulness based on an external and enduring Judeo-Christian value system?

I’ve already established that anything less is not a good use of time for me. So, I move right on to the question is the meaningfulness moral and good? God thinks moral is right and good. I think God is right and good. Therefore, morality has a meaningful place in life.

Humanity: Is the meaningfulness I discern compassionate and forgiving, has it any humanity? God is compassionate. God is forgiving. He wants me to be compassionate and forgiving. Christians are meant to be compassionate and forgiving (Ephesians 2:4-5, NKJV). Gotta love those Christians! They are told (by God) to be expert humanitarians.

Virtue: Does this meaningfulness respect choice?

I respect freedom of choice and therefore for something to be meaningful to me it must be freedom-loving and promote freedom of choice. Choice is a big deal in Christianity. Christianity promotes choice absolutely (as opposed to other faith systems that embrace fatalism). So Christianity has respect for choice and choice is therefore meaningful to me. Quite a circle of thought there, huh?

I’m sure you have seen, gentle reader, that in my writing I am embracing my right to choose by selecting certain things and discarding others—that’s what a sort-out is, actually, a process of selecting, keeping and/or discarding.

And from that premise, I argue that it is therefore conspicuous that whatever I embrace as meaningful must endorse choice, too.

I admit it, I like choice. I’m use to making choices. I’m Christian. I’m an American. We choose. A lot. We feel we have an obligation to choose and choose well.

To be continued . . .

177 Standard Sampling

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

Today is the National Day of Prayer in America, Gentle Reader, and what better day, than today, to undertake a contemplation of meaning must-haves?

For me, contemplation of meaning begins with keeping the Meaning Must-Haves in mind.

Further, over the years, regular contemplation has evidenced to me that I must assemble a consistent form in applying the meaning must-have terms from Blog # 174 as standards of evaluation.

To achieve said consistent form, I developed the 12 must-haves into a mental Q&A format. From then on, I proceeded to dissect any presumed meaning by employing those questions, every last one of them, before obligating myself to any particular meaning. It is quite a habit by now, though without ongoing conscious practice, I could easily digress from my pattern. Thus, putting them in writing has value for me.

That known, I present those questions (a few at a time over several blogs) in hope they may serve your purposes, too:

Clarity: What is the clear meaning related to whatever I am examining?

For example, if I consider life, can the meaning for life that I choose be clearly communicated by a statement of belief, thought or deed? Can that statement be clearly understood by me or others?

Take this instance: Scripture says the meaning of life is that God made humankind for relationship with Him. If I say I believe that, then I must be able to say clearly why.

The why to me is that both Old and New Testament describe God in relationship with humans—again and again. Relationship is not an occasional happenstance of Scripture. Relationship with God as described in Scripture is the pinnacle of achievement in the life experience of humankind. This is clearly evident to me.

Reasonableness: Is the belief, thought or deed reasonable?

My primary standard is reasonableness.

If I see that I am using sound reason to sort through my options, I am satisfied. Reason was a big deal in my family, with friends, in school. God is reasonable. Christianity is very reasonable.

Oh, and also, if you remember, it is not necessary to “make” Christianity reasonable. It already is, down to the last detail, even the supernatural details. Come on, guys, our Almighty God can do supernatural! With Resurrection Power by the Holy Spirit, God the Father raised Jesus the Son from the dead! With witnesses! History records it. Scripture writes it. And that means everything to me!

Because of my love of God, I will always be at odds with those who would diminish the wonder of life. To me, such wonders are, and pray God always will be, indisputably reasonable works of our Omnipotent God.

My choice.

To be continued . . .