Groundhog Day, one of my favorite movies, is a comedy featuring Phil Connors, a self-centered, arrogant TV weatherman. After being forced to take on a much-hated assignment—covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney—he suddenly finds himself caught in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again. At first, he pursues every hedonistic escape he can think of. But eventually he begins to reevaluate his priorities, to better himself, and to think of others’ needs.
Thousands of years earlier, Solomon had carefully observed the circular repetition of human activity. The sun rises, you wake up, have breakfast, send the kids to school, and then off to work you go. Many hours later, you leave the office and come home. And you repeat the same routine over and over again. For some people, this routine couldn’t be more mundanely repetitive and monotonous. The endless cycle never produces anything “truly new” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). In frustration, Solomon concludes: “Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless” (v.2).
Like Phil Connors, we need to reexamine our life and priorities. Instead of seeing himself as a prisoner of life’s repetitive cycles, Connors began to use his knowledge of how the day would unfold to help people. Knowing that a child would fall from a tree at a certain time, he made it a point to be there and catch the child every time. He befriended a dying, homeless man. In helping others, he found meaning and purpose in life.
We too can find purpose and meaning in life. Who is one person we can help today? Solomon advises “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live” (Ecclesiastes 3:12 NIV). Life may be monotonous at times. But it is never without purpose or meaning.
More:
• Galatians 6:9-10
• Hebrews 13:15-16
• 1 Peter 3:10-17
Next:
Complete this sentence: My purpose in life is ___________________. What’s one good deed you can do for a colleague, friend, or neighbor this week?
katuti on April 15, 2010 at 9:03 am
I always complain about the routines because I don´t like them. This devotional will help me see them differently and take advantage. thanks !
Gary4orphans on April 15, 2010 at 10:22 am
Totally agree K.T. We all get 86,400 seconds per day and we should endeavor to use them as good stewards for Kingdom things. Unlike Phil Connors we don’t get a re-do of each day so we need to use those seconds or lose them. One good way to serve others is to support those doing Kingdom work in areas of ministry we are not personally gifted. There is no shortage of ways to contribute to being “Jesus with skin on” to a lost and hurting world. Most of us will not get the daily opportunity to catch someone falling out of a tree, but we can “catch” hurting people nearby and far away by supporting those on the front lines of ministry. Find a “people catcher” you can partner with as part of their support team.
jennifer benson schuldt on April 15, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Excellent devotional. This spoke to me today–at just the right moment. Thank you.
Paul G on April 15, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Great devotional – it seems to me the more we look to God for direction and guidance in our daily lives the more the mundane things of life can take on eternal significance,
hello on April 16, 2010 at 12:02 am
Hi,
This is definitely a good devotion for me. I think it means to us differently but still with His purpose for the understanding in our situation. As for me, I think this to reminds me no matter what happen to me now, to live life with purpose and meaningfully is the source of living for me. So it kind of tells me that Do not think of what will going to happen tomorrow and just live as your life as usual with the purpose…Thank God!
bethsjourney on April 16, 2010 at 8:34 am
Excellent devotional, wonderful food for thought on this beautiful spring morning.
Ted, I LOVE your closing sentence, ‘Because of His sacrifice, no life has ever been without purpose or meaning.’ Awesome. Thank you.
AMEN!