I don't particularly like the "meaning of life" question, but for some reason I just couldn't leave it alone. I had to explore it a bit further so I Googled it and got some ideas:
- To realize your potential
- To live as long as possible
- To seek wisdom and knowledge
- To do good
- To follow God
- To love
- To enjoy
- To be rich or powerful
- To be happy
- Life has no meaning
- Life is miserable
Okay, that's not a bad list. Let's work with that.
I'll discard the last two, "Life has no meaning" and "Life is miserable". There might be some truth there, but I don't feel like going in those directions (and hey, it's my search so I get to pick my direction).
The remaining ideas are all pretty appealing, which makes we want to just pick them all. But such a profound question deserves an equally profound answer. Something simple and elegant. So I'll try to cook those initial ideas down into a single nugget of truth. First, I'll try to categorize them:
- To seek wisdom and knowledge
- To do good
- To follow God
- To love
Objectives
- To realize your potential
- To live as long as possible
- To enjoy
- To be rich or powerful
- To be happy
I suppose one common thread there is that we should try to "be all that we can be". But again, why? I think it's about life being precious, and, so far as we know, about having only one life to live. Okay, I like that message. It also ties in with the "live as long as possible" idea.
Another common thread is that these ideas are means to an end. But what is the end? What do I get for being rich and powerful? Or for seeking wisdom and knowledge? I think the answers here are about being happy, or enjoying life more, things like that (which, by the way, are already on the list).
Then there's the notion of living for yourself (enjoy, be happy, and so on) and living for others (do good, love, follow God, things like that). I see the value in both, so the truth about life must incorporate those ideas, too.
So is that profound nugget of truth beginning to appear yet? So far it's something like, "Life is precious, so live for yourself and live for others". Hmm. There's something there that I really like, but it's just too cryptic to be very useful. Let me try another approach.
The "life is precious" portion is the easy part for me since I've already spent a lot of time pondering that idea and have concluded that I should appreciate each and every moment. Life is like a road trip. When you're born, you get into your vehicle and start your journey. Our lives are filled with ups and downs, adventure and routine, happiness and sadness, love and loss. All of these things, the good as well as the bad, are the gifts of life. So appreciate what's going on around you each moment. If you spend too much time thinking about where you'll be tomorrow, or thinking about how far you've already come, then you'll miss the moment you're in right now! Just pay attention, and savor each moment as it passes by.
Okay, great, stay in the moment. Now, what about all of that "enjoy" and "be happy" stuff? And the "live for others" part? What is it we're supposed to be doing in our moments?
Well, it doesn't make sense that we can enjoy and be happy in each moment, because some moments are full of pain and suffering and loss. So there will be sad times, too. But even in those moments, I think life can be rich and full. And certainly we can help others along the way by being loving and compassionate and good.
So is that it? Is the meaning of life something like, "Cherish each moment, and help others"?
Yes, I think maybe it is. I like that. I think I'll stop there.
So what does any of this have to do with tent living? Perhaps nothing at all. Perhaps everything. (But that's another post.)
Maybe the likes of Richard Dawkins and co were right ... the sole purpose of our existence is as a vehicle for our (evolving) genes. But purpose and meaning aren't necessarily interchangeable.
ReplyDeleteIf only I didn't have all these thoughts and questions about deeper meaning running through my head! It's so compelling to just say, "the purpose of life is...to make more life!" And it's so true. And maybe that's where the questioning ends for all the other life forms on this planet. But since I'm a human, I'm compelled to search for more meaning. It's all pretty interesting to me. I can sit around and talk to people about all of this and we'll all agree that, for example, the purpose of insects and trees and dogs and every other life form (except humans) is simply to keep life going. But when it comes to us humans, it's suddenly, "Oh hell know! We must have a bigger purpose!" Really?
DeleteI like the Stoics view: to live in accordance with nature.
ReplyDeleteI like that one, too. And I think it's the secret to happiness for many people (myself included). Unfortunately, it flies in the face of what modern society tells us to do. But if we can get past the social pressures to live apart from nature, then I think a lot of people would be happier and find more meaning in their existence.
Delete