I was reading an article in the March 2007 Men’s Journal titled, “Anderson Cooper’s Private War,” which reports on what motivates Cooper to cover the life and death stories he often brings to his audience’s attention. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the brutality of war and strife in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are two noted examples of his efforts.

In trying to explain Cooper’s frequent focus on suffering, the article’s author, Jo Bronson, looks for motivation in Cooper’s past including the unexplained and sudden suicide of his brother. Bronson wrote, “In the summer of 1988 Cooper’s older brother Carter took his own life by dangling from the terrace of the family’s 14th story penthouse, then letting go—with his mother right there, begging him not to do it. His last words were, ‘Will I ever feel again?’”

My emotional insides went into meltdown mode when I read this wrenching plea for help from Carter for I have heard the same type of words uttered from the lips of many patients over the years. Depression and hopelessness are common struggles for many people in our times. People are searching for meaning and purpose in their lives, and often don’t know where to look.

I know no other way out of this deep dark pit of human despair then to find life in Spirit where there is always hope and always a reason to live and rejoice.

I haven’t made any scientific study, but it seems from casual observation that mental depression has grown immensely over the last couple of decades among our population. I also believe the pursuit of materialism, consumerism and economic success has grown beyond reason the last few decades as well. I can’t help but see a parallel between the two.

When children are raised to find happiness in things and physical sensation, they pursue those objectives in their effort to find meaning and purpose. But there is no meaning or purpose in the accumulation of riches or perpetual stimulation of the senses. They are empty holes of mortal mindlessness. True happiness is spiritual and can only be found in one’s relationship to God, in feeling close to the divine Love that makes life worth living.

To find Love, we have to turn away from the active pursuit of selfish materialistic goals. We cannot pursue spiritual life and life in matter at the same time, for one forsakes the other.

Cooper’s brother’s plea, “Will I ever feel again?” to me, sounds like a plea to feel Love, to know God. And the right answer is “Yes! You can feel love in your life. God is that Love, and God is right here right now with His arms around you giving you what you need to flourish spiritually and find true meaning and purpose in living a life of generous unselfish love.”

In Spirit, there is no depression. All is light, buoyancy, joy, gratitude, and good. To live in the Spirit, is to live in a consciousness of worth and value, meaning and purpose. It is to be in touch with Life, the one true Life in God, that we have forever. And it is a good life, a happy full life.

The joyous life will never be found in the realm of physical sensation. There is no true life there to be found. Meaningful existence is found in God, in Spirit.

Look to Spirit for happiness in your life. Turn away from the flesh, away from things, away from physical sensation, and get tuned into reality—spiritual reality—where life is a joy, and hope is not an empty promise.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Apostle Paul

Life is good. We can each find this out and enjoy it’s benefits.