Unstinting belief
life has meaning regardless
blunts despair’s power.
Pursuit of meaning
deflects nihilism’s command
as a driving force.
Whether through someone,
an object or idea,
a life’s worth matters.
life has meaning regardless
blunts despair’s power.
Pursuit of meaning
deflects nihilism’s command
as a driving force.
Whether through someone,
an object or idea,
a life’s worth matters.
9 comments:
I want to acknowledge my debt to Victor E. Frankl for inspiring the ideas embraced in this poem. His book Man’s Search for Meaning has been an important mentor in my journey through life. A concentration camp survivor, Dr. Frankl has helped me understand that “ … we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement. … Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress. … It is this spiritual freedom—which cannot be taken away—that makes life meaningful and purposeful.”
Lifes worth matters...I believe this
I found the book at the library! It is currently checked out but they put a hold on it so I'm next in line :)
Powerful words and emotions. When applied to our own MS lives, there is a parallel!
Peace,
Muff
Corrie Ten Boom (also a concentration camp survivor) said that her sister told her, "Thank God, even for fleas."
My FIL relayed a similar message to me many years ago. He too was a Holocaust survivor.
Kim, yes. I certainly prefer to view it that way.
Sherri, so glad you found the book.
Muff, the parallel is unmistakable.
Robert, even the fleas have function and beauty.
Karen, those who have undergone such a crucible of experience and still emerged with belief in the worth of human experience have a credibility that, for me, makes their point of view especially credible.
Very moving!
Nicole, thank you.
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