Claim. Because we were born of God’s love and because of love, the entire course of human life — including its hardships — should be lived for the sake of God’s love and toward possession of that love.
Elaboration. “Since we were born of the love based on God and because of love, we should seek out the path of love, and follow it to its destination” (2.3. We live for the sake of love, 125-65, 1983.3.6). SMM places this above mere endurance: “Hardships, tears and misery would not make us miserable, bitter, or sad because we would be enduring them all for the love of God” (ibid, 67-159, 1973.6.1). The destination is possession-of-God-and-His-love, not merely contact: “The final destination of your mind would be the place where you have taken possession of God and His love. Thus, if you fail to possess His love, everything will be in vain” (ibid, 24-17, 1969.6.22). The implication: the love-for-God axis is what reframes suffering as meaningful rather than absurd.