The Will to Live

Perhaps the biggest temptation that those in their senior years have to face is the temptation to give up on life; to no longer want to live. Along with the elderly, I would also include those who are severely depressed, sick, and disabled; those who find themselves with disabilities and losses that have robbed them of their former life; their careers, health, vitality, talents, skills, and relationships. We can all think of many cases where the will to live made all the difference in a person’s recovery and ability to live a purposeful life.

Two of the greatest gifts that God has given us are our intellect and our will. Our intellect helps us to discover our purpose in life. Our will helps us to embrace our purpose and moves us to make the necessary choices and decisions to live it. If our will is not active, we just give up on living and wait to die. We lose our passion for life, and give up all responsibility to live the life we have. The challenge for us is to rediscover the purpose for our existence. What is the meaning of my life? Why did God create me? Was I just an accident or random event? Do I have a mission in life? Is my life over? Is this all there is? These are the basic questions that everyone asks, at some point in their life; especially the elderly, the sick, the depressed and disabled.

God has already given us the answers, but is that enough? Do we really believe it? God created us for union with him; to know, love, and serve him so that we can be happy. He created us for relationship; to love and to be loved; to be co-creators with him, to multiply; and to be his caretakers of the earth. These answers seem meaningless, however, when we have no hope of recovery; when God does not seem to be present; when we think that Jesus really never made a difference and has abandoned us; when we feel like we have nothing to give anyone anymore; when we have no significant relationships; no one to love us or show us love; when we see no purpose or meaning to live, and feel like we are just taking up space.

This is when we really have to take a leap of faith by rejecting these lies and believing the opposite: by believing and acting as though God is present and really does love us; that Jesus really is Lord and does make a difference; that we are not abandoned; that we still have much to give as long as we are breathing; that we are in relationship with all of humanity; that we have significant relationships we can reconnect to, and more to come, who love us and need our love; that we still have a purpose to live.

We can begin by calling on the name of Jesus, in prayer; talking to him and pouring out our heart to him; by reconnecting with him in a significant relationship; by asking him for what we need and want, no matter how impossible it seems; by establishing a friendship with him; by wanting and seeking to know everything we can about him. Jesus has said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Don’t be afraid to put Jesus to the test! Ask, seek, and knock!

If we want to establish a friendship, what do we do? We want to get to know them and to spend quality time with them. We want to discuss and share everything we think, feel, and experience. Where do we go to find out about Jesus; who he really is? We turn to Scripture, the lives of the Saints, other Christians, and the Eucharist; as well as personal prayer. We pray like Jesus did. If we are just too weary and cannot pray, we can simply repeat the name of Jesus over and over again until he answers us. He will come to us if we do not give up. No matter how old we are, how sick we are, or how disabled we are, it is never too late to have an intimate friendship with Jesus. Then, even if we can never leave our bed, we will discover how meaningful our life is, and fulfill the purpose for which we were created.