What gives your life purpose and meaning?

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I guess the subject line says it all. What gives your life purpose and meaning? Do you feel that you are filling an important role with your life? How?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 13, 2001

Answers

Just in case nobody noticed before---Jesus Christ makes my life worth living. Without Him I would have no purpose. I feel like I'm doing what He has requested of me and that's helping others. In addition to witnessing I attempt to help all those that need help. I can't help all of'm of course, but I can do my best. That's all He asks of us. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 13, 2001.

My life has meaning by being an educated woman who chose to stay at home to raise my kids with morals and faith. My husband is supportive and we feel that we have made the right decision,no regrets. WE,as a family attend church regularly and eat supper together everyday which according to recent polls is a rarity in the U.S. God gives me purpose!!

-- julie (nelson3@bright.net), March 13, 2001.

I read the book of Ecclesiastes, and realized that my life doesn't really mean a thing. It has already been done, and it will be done again.

We want to think that we matter, but we really don't. Kid yourself if you will, but of course, being human, you HAVE to think highly of yourself.

You are no more important than the animal you slaughter for food. You are simply here to survive long enough to regenerate.

All of you that think you will survive a haulicaust!! realize that the people will come streaming from the cities, and kill you for what you have!!

I hope you sleep well tonight.

-- James Wittmore Simon (jws@prophet.com), March 13, 2001.


I'm glad doing everything right or being a perfectly good person is not the answer or I would already have failed. My purpose in life is to love God. Gratefully a lot of good stems from this; I love other people more, I make wiser choices and I am happier and more compassionate and I feel ( and am ) loved by God. That's whats important to me.

-- Arlene in OR (amwauer@todbbs.com), March 13, 2001.

Awareness about says it all for me. I have no interest in seeking answers to the unknowable, what happened millions of years ago, what might or might not happen thousands of years in the future. Most of all I'm not interested in peoples opinions when they insist that they and only they are right about much of anything. What does interest me is today and being aware of my existence. My purpose is to PAY ATTENTION to what is in front of me every minute of every day and appreciate the fact that i have the good fortune to experience this life. I think we all have an inherent wisdom that will guide us without any outside interference if we would only PAY ATTENTION. Awareness, my purpose and meaning.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), March 14, 2001.


Well, I know I have a purpose here... I don't know that I've found it all out yet. I know that I love to learn new things - and to pass on that knowledge. Don't quite think that is my actual 'calling' though. But, if it helps others, so be it, I will continue.

My life has meaning because I try to touch all others and all things in as beneficial way as I can. I get out of hand, and make a lot of mistakes, but I do try.

What I hope for is to live up to two quotes from Ben Franklin:

"Content to live, content to die unknown, Lord of myself, accountable to none." (Humans, that is...!!)

and

"Whenever you are good to others, you are best to yourself."

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 14, 2001.


My family, my faith in a higher power, being able to do the things I love to do (gardening, reading, nature, birdwatching), living my life the right way, my health.

-- amy (acook@in4web.com), March 14, 2001.

jws, you really sound angry, sad and worried. We all have a purpose in life, mostly that purpose is to Praise God, He dwells in the praises of His people. Peace/Purpose for a an empathetic heart is often harder to find. John 14:27

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 14, 2001.

I think it gives MY life meaning to see my 12 yr old son able to cook, tack up his own horse, be able to build a fire, plant a garden, tend animals, make soap, etc. I know that he can then teach HIS children these skills as I was taught or learned from others or self-taught. It also helps to overhear him say that his mom showed him how to do these things. I know if something happens to me he can take these life skills from me with him throughout his life. Kind of makes those early morning hours and sore hands worth it! For those that aren't parents but help others learn skills, I want to thank you for everything! You are our mentors!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

My purpose in life is to serve the Lord!! I am raising my children at home so that they can grow up to be servants of the Lord. It is not how much knowledge a person has but how much wisdom a person has in their life. My purpose is to school my children to love the lord and have much wisdom in their lives.

-- Sarah from NC (Caswell995@cs.com), March 14, 2001.


My purpose in life is to live a life pleasing to God. This is also what gives my life meaning, and also fills my daily life with joy. Altho it isn't possible for me to not make mistakes, I know he is loving and forgiving, and helps me with loving discipline and life lessons. Knowing he cares about me and wants what's best for me gives me a greater sense of peace and security than anything the world has to offer.

This isn't a hardship by any means, nor do I feel restricted. Instead, I find myself truly free, able to easily discard those things and habits that are bad for me and offer only unhappy consequences, and concentrate my energy and resources on the good things. The things that are "off limits" to me would only hurt me and make me unhappy anyway. I can enjoy my family and friends, work, lifestyle (rural living/homesteading) and God's beautiful creation knowing that what is pleasing to him is also what truly makes me happy and gives me a reason to get up in the mornings.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), March 14, 2001.


My purpose in life is to use the gifts God has blessed me with to the best of my abilities....

I've been given a gift with words and so I have dedicated my life to uncovering coruption and possibly making life better for folks through my work as a newspaper reporter/photographer....

A series I wrote in 1984 resulted in our county having one of the first centers for abused children in the state....

I've done numerous series and articles on domestic violence and our county just began a domestic violence task force...

I cannot paint a masterpiece, I can't sing, I can't heal those who are afflicted, but I can use my words to help others....

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), March 14, 2001.


Sounds to me as though you are feeling frustrated and angry, and can't do what your heart is urging you to do because of....what??? I believe there is a PLAN for everyone on Earth; a "misson" (and you know when you've fulfilled your "mission", because then you pass over). I definitely believe we are watched over and helped every second. I have faith that my life is going according to what is "planned" for me because if I get side-tracked, I am miserable, and things go wrong. If I listen to my heart, and do what I really want to do, things start to open up for me. Perhaps you need to find time to meditate and be open to what your heart is telling you to do. Not your head, not your family, not your neighbors; your heart. I believe each of us is a unique part of the Universe, one that has a place and plan that no one else can fill. You ARE here for a purpose. Ask whatever or whomever you believe in for help in finding that purpose, and finding peace of heart and mind. You ARE loved and valued beyond measure, no matter how it appears now.

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), March 14, 2001.

Rebekah, I believe that we all have a purpose on this planet. Whether we praise Jesus, Allah, Bhudda or Xenu, we all have an individual purpose or task to do. Primarily, Everyone's "purpose" is to survive. But, it is the higher levels of survival that cause us all to work together in a quasi-harmony that we call mankind. I take care of myself and my family, that is my first purpose. I help mankind by practising pacifism, that is my second purpose. I help the animal, plants and mother earth by practising ecology and recycling, that is my third purpose. As a good housekeeper of this planet I hope that those that we call Supreme will look down and say I am doing a good job, and reward me with wisdom and truth. Sincerely, Ernest http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks

-- Ernest in the Ozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), March 14, 2001.

I guess I just wonder why I'm here and what for sometimes. I find meaning in the bible, but I can't really see a lot of meaning in trying to convert others to the way I believe. What if by some chance, even though I've studied a subject, I'm wrong, and mislead someone, or turn them off to the bible? I love breeding dairy goats, but I have to wonder if there is really going to be any long term benefit in my breeding goats with tighter fore udders and stronger feet! I guess that there is no substiute for me in the eyes of my children, but if I hadn't been here, they wouldn't be either. Is that all we're here for, to perpetuate our species like any of the other species on the planet?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 15, 2001.


Tonight at youth choir practice, I saw Bobby really singing. He came last week to look, but tonight he came to sing. To realize that I am making a difference in his young life, is what gives me purpose. You see one year ago, this 14 yr old's dad shot himself in the head on their front porch. I had visited at their home before and reached out to that family - no one was interested. Now here comes this hurting, searching soul looking for answers. My purpose in life is to point him to the One who comforts me and has ALL the answers.

-- Eve in FL (owenall@lwol.com), March 15, 2001.

A man who had returned home to Malaysia after many years away and he went on a tour around the country to get to know it again (and to write a book about the journey.) In a little village at the edge of the jungle, he sat and talked with an old man. The man said he believed that before you were born, before you were given an earthly body, you had to make a promise to God. Then you would be born into a body but the memory of that promise was erased. Then you have to figure out what that promise was, and fulfill it.

It is all so unknowable. It is possible that in the grand scheme of things, one is put on this earth to be at one particular place and time that is needed for someone else to continue on their journey. Think of the snippets of comments or snatches of wisdom that you remember that have had a big impact on you, but which were said to you with no great import attached by the speaker. Yet maybe such little things were pivotal in your life. Who knows? If we knew, we would all be gods.

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), March 15, 2001.


Rebekah, I read something last night in the magazine "Sedona, Journal of Emergence (Feb. 2001)" that sort of summed it up for me, so had to respond again.....

"Do you want to know what you're doing in life? Waiting, are you not, for something special? 'Dear God, when am I going to find out what I'm supposed to do?' How may times has Spirit heard that in your secret times?

I'd like to tell you about a very dark place. It's the bottom of the ocean. There's an anchor there imbedded in the mud, doing it's job. At the bottom, there isn't much light, so it's very dark and cold. Encrusted with mud and barnacles, the anchor is connected to a dirty chain. The chain goes up hundreds of feet, and on the surface, there is an ocean liner with literally thousands of Human Beings. Now, if you were to interview the anchor, the conversation would go like this: 'Woe is me; I'm in the dark. I'm not going anywhere. I'm encrusted with mud and barnacles. I am not pretty. Dear Spirit, when am I going to get on with what I'm supposed to do?'

Can I talk to the anchors in the room, please? Can I tell you how beautiful you are? Can I tell you that there is a chain connected to every Human Being in your life? Do you wonder what you're doing, and do you wonder when you're going to get on with your purpose or your spiritual work? Well, you're right in the heat of it and you don't even know it! Mom, Dad, what are you doing in the family? Worker, what are you doing in the workplace? You walk from place to place, and you Hold Your Light. That lighthouse shines light into spaces that were dark before you got there...and you wonder when you're going to get on with it. Anchor, let me tell you that you have chains connected to many people. You don't see them, you don't know it. You're asking to get on with things, but we're here celebrating your lives because you're there as a great anchor, unmoving, keeping that boat from dashing itself into the rocks. You don't have all the facts, and so we are here to say that you are dearly loved. You may be right in the middle of your contract, yet on your knees before Spirit begging for your contract! Think about it. Do you really wish to be removed from that place? When you leave and shut the door, the room will again be dark. We didn't say it would be easy, dear anchors. That's why we call you lightWORKERS. Many of you are in places that would be very dark indeed without the light you bring. So why not instead pray the interdimensional prayer: 'Dear God, tell me what it is I should know.'"

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), March 16, 2001.


Beautiful, Bonnie!

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), March 17, 2001.

to fellowship with god he made us cause he was lonely at least thats what an old jewish fellow wrote ,but ive yet to fully understand the felloship part ive got the lonly part down just fine. thats what i belive cause thats what i belive , it has made me i have not made it. bkp

-- barry kim price (kimprice@peoplescom.net), March 19, 2001.

First a comment to Mr. Simon, Please reread the last two verses in Ecclesiastes 12. Solomon ended with the conclusion of the WHOLE matter:Fear G-d, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For G-d shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.***To Rebekah: Solomon found that without G-d there was no purpose in life, all was vanity. We think of "vanity" as meaning proud and indeed it does but it also means "pointless". without G-d it has all been done before and it is pointless but He gives us purpose. Thank you for an opportunity to respond. Norma

-- norma russell (russells@basinonline.com), March 20, 2001.

What an interesting and lively discussion this has been. I have certainly enjoyed reading the answers and hope that you, Rebekah, find some food for thought. Norma, you gave my answer and so good to see it here. Are we allowed to move in and out of discussions via the very first questions or do we pose our own so as not to intrude on someone else's space? Does it appear to anyone else that without a purpose there can be no living? What do people get up for if they don't know why they are gettin' up? Dee

-- Dee (drebai@yahoo.com), March 20, 2001.

all i have to say to the question about the meaning of life is .....cheese......

-- ian in S. IN. (cloud_bam@hotmail.com), March 20, 2001.

blessed are those who have a purpose ..a direction ... they whio can see a vision .... who know where they are going. Because we all are travellers and we ought to know where we come from and where we go... destination is just an illusion ...truth is, the journey ..

Search your heart and it will tell u definatly ...what is your purpose ..what you really really want to do.....

-- Manu Anand (manu_anand@grabmail.com), June 19, 2001.


The answer is written and I believe it is '42'

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 19, 2001.

No, John, I'm sure I read somewhere it was "Green".

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), June 19, 2001.

I finally found the answer- it was so simple, don't know why I didn't see it before. The meaning of life is love. Without love, life is just an empty shell with no meaning at all. Love of God, your children, a special person, love of life! Love is what really matters all the rest is secondary.

Thank you all for your answers, you helped me to get through a dark and difficult time. :-)

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 01, 2002.


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