“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”
is a famous quote from Henry David Thoreau’s
1854 book, Walden. It suggests that most people’s
lives are unfulfilling due to conformity,
unnecessary routine and chasing money or
status, rather than true meaning. It reflects a
silent struggle where fear and societal pressures
keep individuals from living authentically, a
sentiment still widely discussed in contexts of
mental health and personal fulfilment. In Dead
Poets Society (1989), actor Robin Williams uses
the quote to urge his students to resist this fate.
At first glance, this outlook may seem an
exaggeration. In contrast, the Psalmist (Psalm
73:2-12) complains about the apparent prosperity
of the wicked: “always at ease, they increase in
riches”, so outwardly their lives are not bleak,
whereas the righteous often experience great
suffering. But in the book of Ecclesiastes (2: 1-11)
the case of Solomon is presented. He sought to
obtain meaning via wealth, luxury, hedonism, sex,
power, extravagant building projects and secular
wisdom. But eventually he came to see the futility
of self-indulgence and materialism. “Then I
considered all that my hands had done and the
toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was
vanity and a striving after wind, and there was
nothing to be gained under the sun”.
Despite widespread spiritual blindness, this
realisation is increasingly prevalent in British
society with the shifting ‘tectonic plates’ of global
wars, disasters, political disappointment and
economic gloom. Jesus also talks of the foolish
man “who built his house upon the sand”,
(Matthew 7: 26-27). When the storms of life came,
the sandy foundations were washed away and
the house totally collapsed!
Does life have to be like this?
Alister McGrath, in his recent book: Why we
Believe, reminds us of the insight that we are
‘meaning seeking’ creatures, with a hunger for
transcendence. As Augustine of Hippo wrote in
his spiritual autobiography, Confessions:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our
hearts are restless until they rest in you”.
Jesus urges us to build our lives on himself as our
Rock. As the great Anglican hymn puts it:
“Christ is made the sure Foundation”.
Moreover, for those who apply to him, Jesus
promised to satisfy our ‘innermost being’.
“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried out, saying:
“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and
drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture
said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers
of living water’”. (John 7: 37-39).
The central purpose of the Christian Church
community is to make Jesus known, and to be a
collective “hospital for sinners” where we can be
ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven through
the salvation achieved by Jesus in his life, death
and resurrection. The outworking of the Christian
life and ministry is a 24/7 task for every member
and leader. This takes us beyond the walls of a
‘church building’ into our homes, workplaces and
communities to share our Lord’s love and life.
John Newton – a former 18thC slave trader –
concludes one of his greatest hymns:
“Fading is the worldling’s pleasure:
all his boasted pomp and show.
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
none but Zion’s children know”.
By David Watts