Most of us have drawers, boxes or closets full of things we no longer use that seemed at the time of purchase to be the greatest thing we ever acquired. Usually, we get bored, or styles change, or something even more special makes our “can’t live without” acquisition obsolete. The human appetite for “things” is insatiable because no thing we can acquire can satisfy us indefinitely. The same can be said for wealth, power, and status. We reach a point where what we accumulate is not satisfying enough. Self-indulgence is a never ending quest… “If only there was something more, something new”
Ultimately, most of the people I know who have found contentment and happiness have realized that those feelings are much more about giving than getting. Finding a higher purpose than self, developing and using our skills to achieve higher aims, creating a legacy that makes the world a better place long after your time has passed. Having the courage to aim high and developing the discipline and persistence to gain ground are the tried and tested ways to a fulfilling life.
I have found many people in history who demonstrated this path to a life of purpose, but none as motivating to me as St. Benedict. Read More
