What is the meaning of life?
In Rick Warren's #1 bestseller, "The Purpose Driven Life" the author begins with this:
"It's not about you"
Right there, he had my attention, as just the opposite had been my favorite saying the preceding year, and my general attitude long before that! If it wasn't all about me, then what or who was it about? Warren went on to say...
"The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose, and for his purpose."
Quite frankly, looking back on these opening remarks I'm surprised I finished the book. I grew up in the "me" generation, so this was different than anything I had ever heard. Sure, I had always been a Christian, but I never thought my life was to serve God and "His" purpose alone. I thought I was to serve my own/my family's purposes and goals--as long as they never conflicted with any of God's commandments.
Since reading that book, my definition of God has changed dramatically. I feel I know even less than I did then about God. For me, "He" is now "that mysterious Something" that I feel is there, but has no particular name. I agree that I am here to serve something far greater than myself, but I can only describe it as serving (the greater) "Good."
No matter what you call God: Allah, Jesus, Buddha, the Sun, Good or whatever...even if you don't believe in God at all, I believe we all serve something. Who among us are truly free of service to some master...Who of us really has the ever-evasive and perfect state of total liberty?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
