Is there an answer to the question of life?

Many of us, at one point in our life, spent time searching for meaning and purpose.

We spent considerable amounts of time pursuing our schooling, the perfect job and our relationships with family and friends.

Some of us may discover meaning and purpose in our jobs, a significant other, a passion or hobby or our faith in a higher being.

Some of us succeed while some of us continue to strive to answer life's most pressing questions while attempting to circumvent and conquer obstacles and challenges, hoping one day to reach "that point."

However, what is that point?

I recently commented to a few people that my 30s have been filled with experiences requiring some degree of inner strength and determination.

Although my 30s have not been the easiest, I recognize and feel grateful for the help I received along the way. For, without the assistance, love and encouragement of others, my desire to fight and celebrate life would not be what it is today.

Am I where I want to be? No. Is where I currently am what I planned for or envisioned? No.

However, the more time I spend alive on this planet, the more I see that life, even with strife and challenge, can be and is filled with unexpected blessings.

With brokenness comes beauty, with pain comes a sense of being alive, and an awareness I am still living by life and others lining up help and opportunities I could not have planned by myself.

Life is not easy. No matter what age you are, what your finances may reveal or your health, life will throw you a curve ball.

Many years ago, when I was younger, walking home from a baseball game, my late grandfather shared a valuable piece of wisdom I hold close to my heart today.

While up at bat during a baseball game, I stepped away from the ball, fearing I would be struck, resulting in my striking out.

His words were simple.

"Don't be afraid of being hit by the ball. Step into it, don't back away from it."

I've taken that lesson today to mean: don't be afraid of life banging you around. Life will beat you up. It will want to send you back to the dugout, empty handed, with your head hanging low, feeling defeated.

Step into life. Even when it's hard.

Who knows, maybe one day you'll discover a clearer answer to life.

A clearer meaning and purpose to life.

For how can any of us truly appreciate and celebrate the good times if we were never confronted with the difficult and dark moments of life?

And when those dark, tough moments come, allow family and friends to lift you up and help you.

Maybe one day, you, too, will be able to pay it forward and help another person struggling and feeling hopeless by being a source of encouragement and help.

Until then, attempt to embrace the good times and the bad times.

Mark Reccek

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press