What's the point to all of this?
Lately, I've had more questions than answers. More wonderings than certainty. More doubts. However, the one thing I know (when I know nothing else) is that there's at least one other person out there somewhere going through the same thing I am. Wondering and questioning and hoping they're not alone in their thoughts.
They're not. I'm not.
Let's ponder these questions together.
_
Life can feel really hopeless at times. It can feel confusing and overwhelming and down right pointless.
I was on a tour bus not that long ago, driving down the beautiful Great Ocean Road in Melbourne, Australia. The Great Ocean Road is a giant stretch of land that is purely, sinfully gorgeous. The ocean views, the wildlife, the landscape - all of it breathtaking. All of it seemingly meaningful. It was a long day, so I had plenty of time to look out the window and think all the thoughts one could possibly think. It's both a wonderful and terrible thing to do, thinking.
Consider for a moment one of the smallest of creatures, yet one of the most vital: the bee. They pollinate the plants which in turn give life to us, to our crops, to other animals that live off the vegetation, like the antelope. The antelope, who is the lion's dinner, and the lion who helps keep the population in check. Who, although king of the animals, will one day perish and turn to dust and thus, return to the earth providing nutrients where a new plant will grow for a new bee to pollinate.
A perfect circle of life.
Nature's purpose is clear and defined and connected.
The purpose of human beings, on the other hand, is far more complicated.
We build great things, achieve unbelievable feats, and collectively, as a race, we've done some awesome stuff. But individually, with so many of us now on the planet, it can be hard to look around and really know why you're here and what you're meant to do. Are you destined to be a farmer who grows crops to provide food for others? Or a scientist who solves the mystery of black holes? Or maybe you're purpose is to raise a child that will one day grow up to change the world in some significant way? The possibilities are endless.
The possibilities can feel overwhelming.
And lonely.
And devastating, especially if you've spent time chasing something that never comes to fruition.
Have you ever seen someone and thought, 'That person is doing exactly what they were placed on this earth to do'? It's rare, I think, and I've only see it a handful of times where in my gut I honestly felt that knowledge rise up and nod in acknowledgement of the force in front of me. Take Christina Aguilera, for example, whose voice is other worldly. She was meant to be a singer, through and through. She might also be a great friend and mother and joke teller, but her voice is a clear gift to the world.
The other challenge we face in finding our place on this big blue orb is the sheer volume of our species. Back in the day (and I mean way back) there were only so many humans. Therefore, it was far more likely that each person contributed to society in a way that really felt meaningful at the end of each and every single day. Everyone had something they were good at or that benefited others, so it was easier to stand out for whatever skill or craft you brought to the table.
But now? Now there are billions of us. Standing out among the masses is much, much harder. Knowing your skill or craft or purpose is seemingly impossible. Purpose; an intangible idea we chase. Some people are lucky. They know exactly who they are and what they're meant to do. For most of us, though, we are continually on the hunt, constantly in search of an answer to our reason for existence.
Maybe humans, collectively, are meant to love. Maybe our purpose is to perfect the art of loving one another. Maybe it's kindness; maybe we're supposed to keep trying trying trying until we perfect the act of kindness.
Or maybe each and every one of us does have a purpose that may simply not be clear in the moment. Maybe our purposes are all connected together like puzzle pieces. In the bigger picture view, everything we're doing could be vital. Absolutely essential. However, because life is long and things take a while to come to fruition, we may rarely, if ever, get to see the full and complete puzzle.
For instance, let's say you're the best animal care giver in the world. Maybe you raised a puppy that, in turn, a veteran adopted that then brought him or her so much joy. Joy they never thought they could feel again. And maybe, because of their new found joy, they ventured out and found love. They went on to get married and have a child, and that child went on to learn piano, which in turn led them to create one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever heard. This child went on to become a master pianist bringing happiness to all who listened to their music; animal care givers and veterans alike. All because you took care of a puppy that brought joy and hope to a person who needed it. Full circle. Puzzle complete. All because of you.
It's hard to say what we're here to do. I don't even know this for myself. But I do believe we owe it to ourselves, and maybe the universe, to try...something. Anything. To dream and reach and stretch so far we feel like we might break, but to do it anyway because the "something" we're chasing makes us feel alive, brings us joy, and helps us reside in the knowledge that we matter.
Because we do. You matter. I matter.
We matter.
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