During
this holiday time, you may be thinking about what you can give to your
grandchildren. I suggest that give them the gift of a positive outlook on life
and the gift of how you love the world. Teaching them to learn to love the
world means that you teach them that they cannot be pleasantly indifferent
about its future. Teach them that there is wisdom in knowing that change has
come before and, what is more, that it will keep on coming, often when they
least expect it; unplanned, spontaneous, and sometimes, even just in time.
Learning
to love the world means embracing it in all its complexity—the beauty and the
imperfections, the joys and the struggles. True love for the world does not
permit complacency or indifference about its future. Instead, it calls us to
care deeply and act thoughtfully, to recognize our role in shaping what is to
come.
When
we love something, we are compelled to nurture and protect it, to ensure it
thrives for generations to come. This is the essence of love for the world: a
commitment to its future, its people, and its potential. Such love invites us
to believe in the power of progress, even when the present feels uncertain, and
to trust that better days are possible.
But
this love also carries with it a profound wisdom—the understanding that change
is an inevitable part of life. History shows us that transformation often
arrives unbidden, sometimes in the face of great adversity, and often just when
it is needed most. Change can be unpredictable, even chaotic, but it also
brings opportunities for growth, renewal, and discovery.
For
those who doubt themselves or feel overwhelmed by the challenges of our time,
this understanding offers hope. You don’t need to have all the answers, nor do
you need to solve everything at once. Instead, focus on what you can love and
nurture in the world around you. Each small act of care, each connection made,
contributes to a future where love and fairness prevail.
The
meaning of life is intricately tied to this act of loving. It’s about finding
purpose not in grand, unattainable goals, but in the relationships, we build,
the beauty we create, and the kindness we extend. Love—for people, for nature,
for the possibility of something better—gives life its depth and its direction.
It reminds us that even when the path ahead is unclear, we can
make a difference, starting with ourselves.
Looking
forward, let us hold onto the belief that the world is capable of surprising us
in wonderful ways. Just as the sun rises after the longest night, so too can
humanity find its way through times of darkness. By loving the world and
investing in its future, we become part of the change we wish to see.
When
you choose to love the world, you choose hope over despair, action over
indifference, and connection over isolation. This love is not passive; it is a
force that inspires resilience and creativity. It asks us to imagine new
possibilities, to take risks, and to trust that even the smallest gestures of
care can ripple outward in profound ways.
So,
as we stand at this crossroads in history, let us remember that the future is
not fixed. It is shaped by the love we give today, the dreams we dare to dream,
and the courage we show in nurturing what matters most. Change will
come—unexpected, unplanned, and often in ways we cannot foresee. But with love
as our guide, we can welcome it with open hearts, ready to shape a brighter,
more compassionate tomorrow.
The
question is what keeps despair at bay, what keeps life meaningful, when the
mind — that meeting place of the body and the spirit — comes undone. There is a
recognition that there is something wider than thought, deeper than belief,
which animates our lives an inextinguishable power of affirmation within us.
The
meaning of life is something we have to formulate for ourselves, we have to
determine what has meaning for us… However, in my mind, it clearly
has to do with love — what and whom and how one can love.
