The big questions
by Karen Quiner
These are the big questions in life.
All of us are looking for something. We all have a hole inside of us that needs to be filled. We are all philosophers of sorts.
It behooves us to consciously ask these questions until we find the answers.
Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
We ask you, dear readers, to take a little time for examination and to think about these questions. Share your answers with us. We want to know what you have to say.
This is a really broad and difficult question!
What is our purpose? What do we want? Why are we here?
I remember as a little girl realizing I was aware of me. Others, I thought, probably are aware of themselves. Then I wondered why I was here. I don’t remember my age but being raised in a Christian home, I still didn’t connect the Bible and God to these questions. But, I must. He created us for a purpose or two.
Originally, humans were there to fellowship with God, I believe. Adam and Eve were also to obey God. And then the dreadful fruit and disobedience.
I believe, as Christians who have God’s salvation and forgiveness, we are to live as Jesus lived. Love others and love God first. Worship Him. We must continue to toil as he said to Adam and Eve. It is necessary. We must care for each other, helping with food, shelter, clothing. We must be fruitful and multiply! And with that, we have responsibilities to our families, our children, our parents, our spouses.
So, I guess our purposes are many. And the work of my life, as a nurse, a wife, a mother, daughter, aunt, grandma and friend and part of the body of Christ fill my time. It seems so normal. But it’s God’s plan for my life. I believe.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Great response tannngl! Thank you.
I think all of us want to be happy and we want to be loved. And the question is how we go about filling that need, don’t you think?
There might be more variant answers to “what is all this for” or worded differently “what is my purpose?”
My guess is that people of faith would be most likely answer that we are here to know and love God, to move towards Him, to find our way to Heaven and to take others with us. And to do as much loving as we can during our sojourn here on earth.
I wonder how the non-believers would answer.
What a non-believer answers may not actually be relevant, though I am open to discussion on the point. For me, loving is the answer, one hundred percent unselfish, giving-all-we-have sort of love, without thought of recompense, as expectation of recompense suggests that the giving falls a little short of perfection. At the same time, it is important to be able to accept, as this is also part of giving. Heaven may be where we hope to go, but there is no need to make a hell for ourselves, and others, here on earth. In spite of the gloom of the daily news, I believe we are getting there. A long way to go yet, but we try.
Thanks for such a thoughtful response. As a follow up, what does loving mean to you?
Beautiful answer. You sure don’t sound like a non-believer. Whether you consciously believe in God or not, He certainly lives in you. God IS the essence of love.
And real love does not have any thought of recompense. We have confused the word love to be synonymous with sex or good feelings.
I also like your comment on hell. I think there is a devil and there is a hell, but that people chose it. I don’t think God sends people there.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I was really interested in what people would say to this.