"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me..." (the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21-22, niv).

Several years ago one grandmother I know sold off the old family home, pulled up her roots, left many of her friends and activities behind, and moved to a retirement village in another town. She had been healthy and energetic all her life, but in the last year after her move she aged considerably and developed a terminal illness.

At age 65 another friend of mine retired from being a full-time minister of a large church and set up a full-time counseling center and wrote his first book. His book became a bestseller and he has since written ten more. At age 80 he had slowed down but was still counseling and writing.

What made the difference between these two people? Like many elderly people who retire or move to another place, the first person suffered deeply from the loss of friends, her home of many years, and the activities she was used to. She became lonely and life for her seemed to lose its meaning. She had no real purpose to carry her through this time of major change and readjustment.

The second person, however, had something to live for long before his retirement. He just continued it after "retirement."

Loneliness, emptiness, and boredom are all a very real part of modern man's dilemma. They are indicative of our failure to find meaning and purpose for living and they show up in the high divorce rate, the alarming abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and in the high depression and suicide rate.

In America, for example, the most affluent country on earth, some 40,000 people take their own lives each year while it is estimated that ten times that number attempt
to. That means in our country one person out of every 6,000 commits suicide each year. And there are countless others who, while living in the midst of abundance, to quote Henry D. Thoreau, live lives of "quiet desperation."

The tragedy in life, however, is not death, but rather, as Albert Schweitzer once said, "what dies inside a man while he lives." A person dies inside when he has no meaningful purpose outside of himself for which to live."

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10, niv).

It is purpose--not wealth or success--that makes life worthwhile. Purpose makes even drudgery acceptable and is an immunization against many sicknesses. How then can we
find more meaning and purpose to life? The following tips can help:

Getting out of yourself. Another grandmother I know had a large family to bring up and was widowed rather reasonably early in life. She had her share of heartaches but never allowed these to get her down. She lived a full and active life and had a wonderful gift for passing on cheer to those around her. Her secret was helping other people. She was an active member of her church and had a deep conviction that
one of the basic purposes of the church was to help people less fortunate than herself.

No matter how busy we are or how many problems we have, we can all find little ways to bring cheer to those around us--like bringing home a rose for your wife, a special
treat for the children, a favor for a neighbor. Visit someone who is shut-in. Write a note, use your telephone, or send an email to tell a friend you appreciate him or
her. Words of encouragement and acts of kindness do wonders for both the giver and the receiver.

A vital part of finding happiness and contentment is found in discovering something more important than yourself to believe in, by helping others, and by directing your
thoughts and actions towards them. Egotists are seldom happy.

Love and friendship are also essential for giving life meaning and purpose. Without wholesome relationships, which give us a sense of belonging, we live as islands alone in a very large universe.

So take time for friends. They are a priceless asset in life. "Do you want to make friends?" asks Dale Carnegie, who gives the following advice. "Be friendly. Forget
yourself. You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."

And remember, as another has said, "the person all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package."

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31, niv).

Another way for enriching your personal life is by investing your life in a worthwhile cause. Everybody needs something to live for that is bigger than him or herself--a noble or worthwhile cause into which he can put his best efforts.

A few years ago I was going through a particularly difficult time. Had it not been for both my work and an outside project, I'm sure I would have cracked under the
strain. My work is helping people discover broader personal and spiritual values and my outside project was building my own home--both worthwhile causes.

A creative use of one's talents is also essential for giving meaning to life. God gave us all talents to use. When we aren't using them, we feel unfulfilled.
One man I know was very successful in his work but he was feeling very unfulfilled in it. He felt his job was too small and that he wasn't using his best talents. So he took the risk, quit his job and went back to college to train for the work he really wanted to do. He struggled for several years but today he has built a work that is helping many people and this has greatly enhanced his purpose for living.

This is why I believe it is important to discover what your best talent is (or talents are), get the training you need to sharpen that talent, and find a place where you can use it--either in your job, in a hobby, in your church, or with a volunteer organization. God's purpose for your life will definitely involve the use of your gifts and talents in ways to help others.

Faith, hope, and charity. The poet Goethe lists nine requisites for meaningful living. They are as follows: "Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to
support your needs. Strength enough to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until
some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future."

There is, I am sure, no greater way to increase your hope for the future and enrich your personal life than by learning to love others more fully, by developing a vital
faith in God, and discovering and fulfilling your God-given life purpose. Why not tell God right now that you want to do that and confirm your decision by becoming more involved as a volunteer in community service, a mission organization, and/or in your church or chapel. If you are not involved in a local church, ask God to help you find the church that is right for you.