I And Thou

the language of the Bible, " Those who wait upon the
Lord shall renew their strength ". In the language of
Nietzsche, who in his account remains loyal to
reality, " We take and do not ask who it is there that

Man receives, and he receives not a specific " content "
but a Presence, a Presence as power. This Presence
and this power include three things, undivided, yet
in such a way that we may consider them separately.
First, there is the whole fulness of real mutual action, of
the being raised and bound up in relation : the man can
give no account at all of how the binding in relation
is brought about, nor does it in any way lighten his life
—it makes life heavier, but heavy with meaning.
Secondly, there is the inexpressible confirmation of
meaning. Meaning is assured. Nothing can any
longer be meaningless. The question about the mean-
ing of life is no longer there. But were it there, it would
not have to be answered. You do not know how to
exhibit and define the meaning of life, you have no
formula or picture for it, and yet it has more certitude
for you than the perceptions of your senses. What
does the revealed and concealed meaning purpose with
us, desire from us ? It does not wish to be explained
(nor are we able to do that) but only to be done by us.
Thirdly, this meaning is not that of " another life ", but
that of this life of ours, not one of a world " yonder "
but that of this world of oiirs, and it desires its con-
firmation in this life and in relation with this world.
This meaning can be received, but not experienced;
it cannot be experienced but it can be done, and this is
its purpose with us. The assurance I have of it does
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