Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

The final part is often attributed to Thoreau but does not appear in Walden – “and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

What song is still in you that’s yet to be written?  What is it that’s keeping you from singing that song as loud and off-key as you can so that at least someone can hear the blessing of the song?

Maybe you’re like me and can’t carry a tune with a fork-lift.  Perhaps you wonder what your great gift is, what business you could start, what realtionship could be like walking with the Lord.

Solomon noted in Ecclesiastes 9:7-11, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

The time is now for the new movies, the new music, new software, and new ideas that are in your mind.  Now is the time to enroll in that new class, write that new book, finish that new program – now is the time to do whatever you do with all your might.

Don’t settle for a life of quiet desperation.  Don’t go to the grave with the song still in you!

Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

The Psalmist wrote, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV

If we’ve focused these many years on what we are against a proper reaction to this would begin to focus on what we are about, that in the presence of God is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

God gives us purpose and that leads us to His presence where we may find joy and pleasure.  This leads me to believe that God has tied our happiness to our work.

Finding purpose in our journey gives meaning to life and the struggle to achieve our goals generates a deeper sense of living a meaningful life with purpose.