In Search For Meaning

Man's main concern is not to gain pleasure or to avoid pain but rather to see a meaning in his life.
(Viktor Frankl)

I remember having long discussions with the girlfriend of a roommate about religion when I was a student. She was Jewish and at one point in the discussion told me 'Well, God died in Auschwitz'. I didn't really know what to say in response then. Today, I think I would. After all, it was Viktor Frankl who developed the book 'Man's Search for Meaning' while being in a concentration camp. We are all one. Someone played the willing German who participated in the gruesome killing, someone played the helpless Jew who was slaughtered like a lamb, while someone else played the hero who either fought the Germans or rescued innocent Jews. It is us who participate in this movie over and over again until at one point we get that we are all one, and that every injury we inflict on others, is really us hurting ourselves.

I agree with my friend, how should we be able to find meaning in the execution of  6 million Jews. We can't, yet, we can admire Viktor Frankl's willingness to find meaning in his concentration camp nightmare. He has inspired millions of psychology students with his courageous insights and can be considered as the grandfather of the positive psychology movement. So today I would say to my friend let's hope that humanity has outgrown this bloody part of our history, but let's stay alert and see whether the themes of discrimination, fear and abuse can't be spotted in little things here and now. All of these can give us meaning and offer another opportunity to grow and transcend. Yahweh is present just as She was during these dark days of humanity. Search for meaning in everything that happens to you today and you will surely find her.