Making meaning is different than having value.
I'm convinced at what the ancient Scriptures teach about our inherent value in creation. That we're made in the image of Creator God. We, men and women, are thus inherently infused with divine value.
Dig into the ancient text and you'll no doubt find meaning or purpose. To know and be known by God. To love God and love others.
But that isn't what most people mean when asking for meaning or purpose. We should. And we do, of course. We want to know the high level purpose that gives us existential meaning. And we need it. It's foundational to building a healthy and holistic philosophy of life (something very dearly missing in education today).
But in the daily dirt of it all, meaning must become that tangible action we take each and every day to experience our value and live out that greater meaning.
In other words, we have to make meaning. We do this when we set healthy, captivating, meaning-filled goals.
It's one thing to want know we're valued and created with purpose. It's another thing to get really specific about which goals and how and when and with whom and towards what end we're going to move towards fulfilling them.
So, what meaning are you making in your value-packed, meaning-filled existence?