I don’t mean why are you HERE. I’m not referring to the 51 unique visitors to this blog who spend an average of 7 seconds each, checking in. I mean why are YOU here — on this earth? If you don’t believe in God, then you don’t have a clue; you’re just an accident that has already happened. A big bang. A mutation from a single-celled organism. An apostrophe.
BUT - if you believe in God, then you may have a lot of work to do. Because he certainly had a reason for causing you to exist, and it would behoove you to determine how you fit in with this amazing creation.
The poet W. H. Auden said,
We are here on earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don’t know.
He’s got a point. If your focus is on your role in this world, the others will take care of themselves. How many of us are more concerned with what others think of us, what others are enjoying, how others have offended us or what they have that we don’t?
It really is quite possible to do good to others. It takes work. It requires fighting frustration, or even anger. It demands the abandonment of apathy. Instead of feeling that we are being used, wouldn’t it be better to recognize that we are needed — even if THEY don’t recognize it?
Caring for others is what gives our life purpose. It can be in the form of outreach, like visiting a nursing home or bringing comfort to shut-ins. Those who do such are a blessing and are themselves blessed. But opportunities for caring abound; the only prerequisite is that you’re breathing. Unless you’re the only person on the space station (and your radio is broken), you’re bound to be in touch with someone daily, be it family, friends, co-workers or neighbors. You communicate with them by voice, touch, listening, as well as by phone, e-mail or old-fashioned letter-writing.
What you say or do determines your level of caring. They don’t have to notice it. You don’t even have to notice it. Just do it. And do it some more. Then it becomes natural — as natural as breathing. As God’s children we are called to obedience. Not jumping through hoops, or checking off a to-do list. It’s not even keeping the commandments. It only requires doing that which is spoken within you — directions from God.
You can deny that God is teaching you, directing you. But that would only confirm that your focus is not on him. Because by truly focusing on him, you see the countless others that he also loves, those he is expecting you to care for. You matter. Be here. For them.
Read more about: meaning of life, the journey
