My cousin has often bemoaned his mother’s misinterpretation of texting abbreviations. My absolute favorite misinterpretation was when she thought that LOL stood for “Lots of Love”. She would even share with him disheartening news and sign her text or email with “Lol, Mom”.
Even now, I’m dying of laughter at this. However, it also reminds me of the answer to the age old question, “What is the meaning of life?” How many movies, books, and shows have made a joke about seeking to finally solve this seemingly unsolvable riddle. I think in the book/movie, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, (spoiler alert) the answer to the question is 42. And we laugh at the ridiculousness of this answer.
I discovered in my early twenties that when I lived for myself, ignoring the needs and happiness of others, I was miserable, but when I redirected my existence to serve rather than to be served, I grew deeper in joy and gratitude. This gave me a spirit of happiness that lasted even through difficult moments.
Lots of Love is the true answer to the question, “What is the meaning of Life?” God is a communion of three persons in one being. The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. Their love for one another is so powerful that this Love has life and is the Holy Spirit.
For reasons that remain mysterious, this love was overflowing. God saw that it was good for there to be more of it. But how can the all powerful, all knowing God who is limitless love already bring about more love? Isn’t the amount of love that He is already Infinite?
God reached outside of Himself to create beauty and goodness that is not Himself. He made our world in a way that reflects His qualities and put a variety of creatures in it to further manifest His Inner Life. Finally, He made something in His Image and Likeness with free will to choose for him or herself. He then placed this new creature at the center of the world, handing over control to them over what can happen in it.
This truly free creature is humanity and our free-will was given to us so that we can choose the same choice I discovered in my early twenties. Love cannot be forced, it must be freely chosen. Should someone be forced into a relationship for years and be made to do every request of their partner, at every moment they can freely withhold their love.
God made us so that we could cover the world with love. We are not meant to force others or withhold our hearts from one another. Our purpose is to crown each other with our desire to make the other’s life better off. Jesus said it best when He declared that we must love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
We must to a greater degree love God and this in turn will shine through us onto our neighbors. We love God through worship, communication, and putting His Will over our own. There is no better use of one’s free will. There is no better life than one filled with Lol.
