A Short Essay on Purpose

Purpose is not created by us, it within us before we contemplate it. I could not live knowing that I had to create a purpose for my life in order to survive. I could not live knowing that I—and I alone—was responsible for my ultimate success and happiness by finding my own purpose. This might appear awkward, for surely one's old-age feelings of adequacy and inadequacy are dependent upon their decisions—and of course their luck—in life. But then again, purpose is above these basic elements. It is the cart before the proverbial horse. And should be. It doesn't fit in line with the usual balances of life because it is not created by the human mind. It is Divine. What is purely human is short-lived, faux and cheap, like the valueless value meal at McDonalds. Purpose is none of these.

In the Matrix, Neo responds to Morpheus' question regarding his frustration concerning fate, saying, "I don't like the idea of not being in control of my life." I agree with him. I do not like that idea either. We are more comfortable with planning and living our own lives than believing that somehow, somewhere, someone else (e.g. God) is also in charge of our lives, simultaneously. A scary prospect, perhaps. But what is comfortable almost always is complacent and ignorant. In my mind, this is a comforting revelation. I, for example, do not trust my judgment alone—and the composite judgment of my friends and family—to provide me with purpose and happiness in life. Sure, I could come close. I could live for the best in humanity—honor, dignity, love, etc. But to strive for dignity, for love, for honor, is limited as well—because in none of these lies true purpose.

I believe purpose is in each of us, but we must discover it. Perhaps we cannot know what it is, or what it is, but we can have a vague idea if we set aside our tendency to reject what at first appears to be ridiculous, or unpopular, or even initially not in our favor. I am skeptical of those who know their purpose, as if someone or God told them what it was. The idea is too similar to being told the future, which, by default, makes that version of the future impossible. But not knowing one's purpose is much different than having no purpose at all—without having purpose, we are rudderless and left to our own ideas of self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction and happiness—a prospect with which I am also uncomfortable. Is this weakness? To the critical of religion and the Divine, it is. It means I am too weak-minded to think for myself and create my own purpose. This, however, is an old, tired explanation for rejecting someone or something higher than ourselves. If we wallow in what makes up humanity—in our history, our accomplishments, our inherent limits—we limit ourselves much more severely than if we seek that which is higher than ourselves—that is to say, our inherent purpose in life. To live for something other than ourselves.

But where do we find this purpose, if it indeed exists? Is it found in books? In love? In 2007 Cadillac Escalades? I wish it was found in any one of these, because life would be easier. I could climb the mountain and reach the top—finding purpose at the pinnacle of human cognition. But sadly, life does not work this way. We do not reach the top. Inconsistent with the rules, goals, and boundaries we place in life, there is no end—no final goal reached that truly completes our life's chapter in the great chronicle of humanity. Instead, fortunately, there is only more until we are forced to stop at our death.

No, purpose could not be human, because it is inconsistent with what is produced by humanity. It does not follow the rules. It is not something to be found through research. It is merely in us, waiting to be discovered. Only, we must be willing to humble ourselves before Him and retrieve it.