We seek to love and be loved
As we grow older our attentions turn to the possibilities of reaching some fulfillment in relationships with others, in friendship, marriage or dating relationships. This is by far one of the most rewarding and worthy things to pursue in a life lived well. Much has been said and written about the importance of a strong family and the benefits it accrues to the individual and society. Looking at the lives of great men and women of history confirms that those that have a solid, affectionate and nurturing family ultimately become the great leaders of society and the world.
But not all of us had such an atmosphere to grow up in. Most of us, truth be told, were in a less than perfect family. Even this desire of one member of a family to have an ideal family has been the ruin of a family. Think of the families where the appearance of this ideal for the public has become more important than the actual people in the family. We have all heard of the senator or business leader whose family was out of control and even violent in private. And while most of us don't experience this level of dysfunction, we would probably all agree that this is an area of great pain for many people.
Then we seek fulfillment through another in relationship. The volumes that are printed on a daily basis about all of the various relationships between actors, singers and 'reality tv' stars are a testament to the importance attached to this in our day. Why else would a person buy a copy of multiple gossip magazines every month? And of course the answer is to feel better about themselves. They look at the Hollywood couples and say either, "Man, my life is great compared to this mess," or they dream of their perfect royal wedding to Prince Perfect. And so while they are fantasizing and comparing they are also desiring something better and higher for themselves.
This desire to be loved and to love finds it's most common attempt to be fulfilled in the riches and ditches of romantic relationship and marriage. From the beauty of the Biblical narrative in the Song of Solomon to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Titanic we have made much of the ideal of love and romance in our Western culture, and rightly so it seems. For even the most tawdry and illicit relationship has at least one moment of bliss and excitement that points to something greater still. Something that seems to say, "Keep seeking."
We seek experiences of all kinds – physical, mystical, emotional
For many the search for meaning and significance leads to a kind of eclecticism of experience. Thrill seekers, chill seekers, and adrenaline junkies of all types go for the style of life best described in our day as the Just Do It mindset. Some go into the mystical and spiritual areas of life and develop deep, spiritual lives, seeking the highest and the best humanity can achieve. Others develop their experience orientation around health and fitness, or sports. Of course, there are the extremes of the extremes that lead to destructive lifestyles and even sickness and death. Stories of drug addiction and sexual exploits gone wrong and leading to the ditch of disease and debauchery, and the exploitation of young people in cults are all too common stories we know of in our own lives or someone we know. Experience is valuable, but in itself is no answer to the true call of the wild in our souls.
from: JavaJazzJesus
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