Purpose

I woke this morning to the sanctimonious ramblings of a religious elder coming from my clock-radio. He was ruminating on human purpose. Speculations on some non-existent master plan of the Universe.  Of course, his species was at the center of this plan.

There is no apparent purpose to human existence other than its niche in a greater mundane ecology. And, it appears that the evolution of the frontal lobe and the prehensile thumb has really messed up that evolution to the possible extinction of life on the planet. If there is a great master plan, it looks like it may be geared to eventual self-destruction of this green planet at the hands of humankind before its sun goes into nova and obliterates its whole solar system.

Human beings create their purpose. Some create the purpose of evangelical domination of others. Some create the purpose of military massacre in the name of a cause or greed. Others create the purpose of doing good within their own environment. 

I am amused when someone says they feel they have no purpose after they retire or when their own children move away. "Are you blind and deaf?", I think. Actually Helen Keller proved that a blind and deaf person can have more generosity and perception than that. How can anyone with their health and any resources feel at a loss for a purpose in a world which still suffers from poverty, isolation and injustice? The passivity which is encouraged by organized religion and ineffectual government contributes to this lack of creativity of individual purpose. 

Purpose can be found every morning with some reflection and personal organization. There is someone lonely in your life. There is someone poor in your life. There is someone ill in your life. If not, get out of your life and onto the street with open eyes. There will be an endless source of purpose in front of you. Looking for some master plan or waiting for an invitation can be an excuse for not simply rolling up your sleeves.