I ride the bus a lot, and on the bus there are a lot of different kinds of people. There are the yuppie professionals going to work, there are the high school students, there are those who can't afford a car, and there are those who are unable to drive a car...plus I am sure there are a few other groups I could generalize. I don't like riding the bus, but I also don't like the cost of parking downtown. Plus, it makes me feel like I am making an effort to reduce the impact I personally make on the environment. I do, however, like to watch people (anthropologically speaking), and the bus is a great place to do that.
There are some people that just seem stressed on the bus, like this lady I observed the other day. She watched the road very carefully, and rang the bell as soon as she possibly could. I can only imagine...as I like to create life stories for the people I watch, and give them fictitious names...that she was working a dead end job, and was trying to figure out what to make her kids for supper.
Then my mind slipped into more ontological thoughts.
What is this lady living for? Does she like her job/life, or is she simply working to survive? I like my quality of life more or less, and there is meaning and purpose to what I do? I strive and dream. What about people who barely survive, and simply struggle to feed themselves? What about those who lack the mental faculties to know much beyond working, eating, sleeping? Are they happy? Does everyone have something to live for beyond getting off of the bus at the correct stop?
Then I thought about animals. My cats are basically there to provide us with entertainment, pleasure, de-stressing, and so on. Their purpose in life is solely caught up in my desires. Beyond being a part of my existence, they have no 'reason' to be alive, no grander meaning to their life beyond being a part of the food chain.
Then I thought, why are us humans so caught up in trying to figure out the meaning of life? Are we really all that much different than my cats?
Then I thought about Christians. What if our only reason for existing is to be the giant lap-cat for God to pet and look after? Just because we have a rational intellect that can surmise and speculate, does that necessarily mean that we have to have a purpose to be alive other than to be entertainment for something greater than ourselves? Are we okay with simply being another animal on the planet, if that is in fact our role in the cosmos?
Then I thought, will anyone read this far into this post, and even respond?
2 comments:
Does that necessarily mean that we have to have a purpose to be alive other than to be entertainment for something greater than ourselves?
I've been pondering of how to answer this. With proofs/evidence or a gut feeling. I'm not sure if I've done either well.
1) Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. (Westminster Catechism)
2) Love God and others (Matt 22:37-39)
3) Exist for and through God (1 Cor 8:6)
4) Be in relationship with God (Hosea 2:16-17,19-21)
5) Stewards/caretakers of the earth (Gen 1:26-28)
As God's creation, we have a purpose to be in relationship with God. Yet this is optional, not forced; desired, not obligated. There is also a purpose to tend to the rest of creation.
My gut feeling is that we are more than just a "giant lap-cat" but "being solely caught up in [God's] desires" might be pretty spot on.
Unrelated question: When you write politicians, do you ever get back letters that make you question if they even read your letter? I just received a response from the SK Min of Health and it had almost nothing to do with what I originally wrote him about. I am contemplating a response in a contrasting tone to the first letter I sent him, including the response from the opposition who seemed to completely understand my letter.
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