The Point of Life
By Natalie Ruh
While I wasn’t cracking jokes with my friends in school, or working my butt off to get straight A’s, a thought that I didn’t even acknowledge occurred to me. Why do the things that matter to me matter at all? This led to another thought. Why do we need to do the things people say we need to do? I’ve always wondered these thoughts, but haven’t realized it. And recognition is the reason I am writing this today.
Have you ever felt stuck with no way to get out? Sometimes I feel this way. Trapped. Stuck. Hindered. As if my life is planned out and there is nothing I can do to change it. As if my life is this routine that I have to do and redo for eternity.
Today, I was pouting about how my weekend was going to be horrible and how school is so pointless. Then, at some point, my train of thought led to one destination and I finally realized where I was. And it was this thought that made me question everything I have done in my life time.
My question: What is the point of life?
Well first, what does ‘life’ mean? The dictionary says that life is ‘the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally’. I’m not 100% sure, but I think that means life is the opposite of death. Well, duh!
But again, what is the point of life?
Some might say it is to protect others, but we all die eventually.
Some might say it is to love one another, and while that might be part of our existence, it is not hitting the bulls-eye.
Some might say it is to make memories, but happenings always fade and we soon forget them.
Some might say it is to have a pleasurable time, and while the thought is rather appealing, there is nothing behind it, because pleasure is just pleasure. There is (in the scheme of things) no outcome. Because when you cannot think of anything else to pleasure yourself with, you have done nothing for yourself to show for it that is un-erasable.
I thought of what we are required to do with the majority of our lives and saw a bland timeline that achieves absolutely nothing. From the time we’re born, we learn to interact with others (only to be limited to be around people later in life). We go to school to learn about the world and we learn what to do with our future. Then we work so we can apply what we learned in school. Now, no law forces us to get a job, but there is something that draws us to work: Money.
This brings us an important question. Why do we need money? Because without money, we cannot receive items that are sometimes necessary to live. Simple, right? But why does money matter? Answer: because we make it matter. That’s all that there is to it. But that is for another time.
Back on topic: If you lay out everything I have just said and take a look, it doesn’t sound like what life should be like.
Summary: We are born, we go to school, we get jobs, we earn money, and then we die.
Fun huh?
Someone once asked me if I thought Jesus died on the cross so we could get a job. Once he asked me this, it was clear what most of life was about.
Now, after saying all of that, I think life is about getting the earth ready for God’s kingdom. But at the same time, it doesn’t feel like a complete answer (if you know what I mean). And now, looking from a religious view, the question is totally different. Why did God make us? For His own pleasure? So He could feel responsible for something? So He could love something and have it love Him back? To give Him memories and joy? Did he make us just because he could (I honestly don’t think that, but who knows?)?
Honestly, I haven’t a clue. But I am sure that as soon as I get to heaven, I will ask. But until then, I should do what the Word says: to get people ready.
And because I’ve always wanted to write this, I’m just going to say it.
The End
