Why Are We Here?
I would not dream of attacking that age old question; what is the meaning of life? That is best left to the deep thinking philosopher, acid rock musicians or science fiction novelist. Philosophers have been attacking that question since they realized it was a question. And Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) answered the question once and for all by giving us the equation 9 times 6 equals 42. I have no idea what that means but since it appears to be gibberish, I will take it that he did not know either. Neither philosophers, nor musicians, nor novelists have adequately provided the enlightenment of the ages, so I have had to piece it together myself. I am afraid that my pieces are kind of like a jig saw puzzle for the visually impaired but it is a work in progress and I am comfortable with my results. I guess that is the important thing.
During my search, I have spent endless hours listening to music. Somehow I felt that a musician’s lyrics played with the right music would provide the way. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a dead end of sorts. I did come across one song that seemed to stick in the back of my mind. It was too simple of an explanation but it did seem to point in the right direction. The song is All You Need Is Love by The Beatles. I knew there was more to my search than that but it somehow provided a base to build on. Actually, it provides the direction to take in this great philosophical search. I was, at that point in my life, too young and lacking maturity to understand that point.
So here I am, mid-40’s, married, hopelessly in love with my wife, 3 gregarious children, and working on the real ingredient to the meaning of life. The Beatles left numerous clues to follow. “Money Can’t Buy Me Love” provides a great insight into chasing after wealth as a means of happiness. In the end, it is just a pile of toys that someone else gets to play with. Getting the career and climbing the corporate ladder was the next area that I though would get me there. That comment that on my death bed, I would say that I wished I had spent more time at work hit very solidly home. Having a family and spending time with them ended up being a sizable slice of how I found happiness. Being happy is a big part of the meaning of life but it still leaves a big hole. Getting to know God and realizing that he is the creator of all life was the final piece for me. Having a personal Savior that I could draw strength from and share my joys and sorrows with is the key to the search. It was the realization that I am no longer actively seeking life’s meaning tells me that I have found it. It is no longer that infamous line from Helter Skelter, “When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide. Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride. Til I get to the bottom then I see you again.”
Icool
Cobb
During my search, I have spent endless hours listening to music. Somehow I felt that a musician’s lyrics played with the right music would provide the way. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a dead end of sorts. I did come across one song that seemed to stick in the back of my mind. It was too simple of an explanation but it did seem to point in the right direction. The song is All You Need Is Love by The Beatles. I knew there was more to my search than that but it somehow provided a base to build on. Actually, it provides the direction to take in this great philosophical search. I was, at that point in my life, too young and lacking maturity to understand that point.
So here I am, mid-40’s, married, hopelessly in love with my wife, 3 gregarious children, and working on the real ingredient to the meaning of life. The Beatles left numerous clues to follow. “Money Can’t Buy Me Love” provides a great insight into chasing after wealth as a means of happiness. In the end, it is just a pile of toys that someone else gets to play with. Getting the career and climbing the corporate ladder was the next area that I though would get me there. That comment that on my death bed, I would say that I wished I had spent more time at work hit very solidly home. Having a family and spending time with them ended up being a sizable slice of how I found happiness. Being happy is a big part of the meaning of life but it still leaves a big hole. Getting to know God and realizing that he is the creator of all life was the final piece for me. Having a personal Savior that I could draw strength from and share my joys and sorrows with is the key to the search. It was the realization that I am no longer actively seeking life’s meaning tells me that I have found it. It is no longer that infamous line from Helter Skelter, “When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide. Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride. Til I get to the bottom then I see you again.”
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
6:41 AM
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