Intellectual Journey

The Search For Value And Meaning

In Bonaventure’s step six we focused on the texts by Bonaventure, Matthew, Dickinson, and Don DeLillo. Step six focuses on one’s search for value and meaning. The quest for meaning and the search for values are both related, which is explained throughout the texts in step six. Since we have explored everything else in the previous steps we can now ask how can we live a meaningful life?

“The Consideration of the Most Blessed Trinity In Its Name Which Is The Good” by Bonaventure is about meaning and values of life. Meaning is why we are here, that’s why the creation story means so much to those who believe in the church, it gives those who follow the Bible meaning. We are on a constant search for the meaning of our lives. Values are the things that one believes in and holds to, which can be a religion or honoring ones property. Values are what bring meaning to one’s life. The Holy Trinity is an example of meaning and values. God is the essence and the meaning to our lives. Jesus is the existence and the values. The Holy Spirit is both, it is what connects the essence and the existence. Jesus is how God connected to us, by becoming human God was able to relate to us. God was not above us, and by doing this God made the world sacred. By becoming human also became humble, because God had to experience pain, emotions, limitations, and feelings. Because Jesus was crucified around 2000 years ago he is unrelatable to those in the modern world, and since we can neither see nor touch God, God is unrelatable. That is why the Holy Spirit exists, the Holy Spirit is there to remind us of God in human form. The Holy Trinity are the three appearances of God. Bonaventure asks us to reflect the trinity.

“The Sermon on the Mount” from Matthew 5-7 explains what Jesus believes our values should be. The test starts with the beatitudes, all of whom are missing something from their lives mentally. “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost...