An ice breaker: What is “meaning” and where do you find it?

[essius]

Despite our numbers, this community seems to be temporarily dwindling in its output. An ice breaker, therefore, seems to be in order.

In our last post, digitig mentioned an interest in the question “of what it actually is to assign meaning; ‘what is the meaning of “meaning”’, if you like” and exclaimed, “That seems to me to be a semiotic question!” I

Comments

..meaning..

[overflowingcup]

The clock gives meaning to this post, as it is almost another day in the life 'n times of this writer. So, in this sense, meaning is a continuum of moments with each one tied to a specific point in time on the 'time line' if you will. In my life, meaning has been gleaned from mistakes, from pivotal points, from 'light bulb' moments, from bombardments by media, school, other's opinions, biases, judgmentalisms, etc. Even the expression, "etc." has relative meaning for me. In other words, I know what it means but does the listener; and, do I care that others get it, or not? Meaning...it extends throughout everything. It is vague...it is clear...it is relative...it is specific...it vascillates from day-to-day.... How is it that I should care what anything actually means to anyone else? Yet I value what others, specifically 'special others', "significant others", actually think about anything that I find meaning in...i.e., my children's education, lives, their experiences, etc. Meaning has value, at least to me, so it must be egocentric, self-centered, leading to everything subject to interpretation. Maybe its a "good" thing; maybe its not. It extends through my (our) consciousness only, for without sane consciousness, there is no meaning, only craziness...and, sign studies cannot be crazy, it has to be there is something about it, more than selfishness...more than guess work. The most meaning I've actually found in my life, however, is in looking back, because 'in the moment', I've not always understood what was transpiring. Oh, I think I wanted to, but there was no clear meaning to me such that planning and/or guidance, influence, change (at least in a positive sense) could be found to exist or be forthcoming. Where I get meaning these days is in my constant relation with Christ; with my constant interplay with words with the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. Passages in Scripture come to me one way one day and totally something different another day. Until recently, I didn't even get that God Almighty was extending himself to us in a 'pouring out completely' sense in the parables in the NT. Pouring out completely...leaving nothing behind...giving meaning where none existed before. The most brilliant minds of any time will not understand God's meaning across generations; will not get the same meaning from one to the next (hence the 'generation gaps', as identified by some). Just when I think I understand something, I know nothing...and even that has relative meaning. Lock me into Christ and all the meaning I need is present. Take Him out of the equation, however, and Light becomes darkness and I'm lost again. So, what does it all mean, anything, everything...you tell me...I want to know. Break it down for me, please...such that a 4-yr-old can understand it, isn't that the way to experience enlightenment?