A few hours ago, I learnt the unfortunate news of Alexei Navalny’s death. He was a Russian anti-corruption activist and Vladimir Putin’s arch-enemy. For some unknown reasons, Alexei’s death was a kick in the gut. I’m not Russian, but I’ve been following his fight for democracy and his fearlessness as a critic of Putin. And this brings me to the topic of my article, ‘infinite abyss’. What’s the purpose of life? No matter how powerful a man is, like Putin, one day, he will die, and there’s nothing he can do about it. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, will not live forever. And what would have been the purpose of his life? Killing everyone who opposed him?

Blaise Pascal, a religious philosopher, mathematician, and Catholic writer discussed the emptiness mankind feels that human effort can’t satisfy in a collection of work called Pensées (“thoughts”) released posthumously. Pascal described a craving humans feel and it was a timely reminder of how futile life can be without God.

Pascal wrote: “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him … though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; by God himself.”

So no matter what we do, there’s always this yearning and emptiness we can’t fill. Conquering Ukraine and eliminating political opponents won’t fill the emptiness in Vladimir Putin’s life. He will never find true and lasting fulfilment in life without God.

It is crucial to contemplate the legacy we will leave and the positive influence we can have on others. Alexei Navalny fought for an incorruptible Russia and paid with his life. Generations yet unborn will laud his efforts. Whatever we do, it’s important to think about the legacy we’ll leave behind. To folks who believe in God as I do, the impact we’ll have in people’s lives is immeasurable. The fulfilment and joy we have for having God in our lives is priceless.