The purpose of my life ...

Tuesday, April 17, 2012. What is the purpose of my life? Perhaps I should better ask: what is the purpose of this day? What is the purpose of this hour?

Many purposes, how long do they last? …

Many people have asked the question of their purpose. Usually, we need to ask this question when we move from some goals to others, when there are changes in our life which generate the need to orient ourselves. Humans are able to set goals, and as part of this they ask for purpose, for a framework of goals.

But there are many goals in our life. We want to succeed in school. We want to get a job. We want to find a partner. We want to have fun. We want to be recognized. We want to be known. We want to be loved. Etc Etc.

Some of the goals we have are only short-term goals. When school is over, we do no longer have goals which are related to school, usually. Then, other goals take over - that is natural. But most goals are only adequate for some part of my life. Others, like the need for love, are universal. They will always be there!

God's purpose for me …

In the bible, there is another approach to the purpose quest. The biblical approach starts with God, the creator. He is the beginning and the end. He is the centre of all what is. In this sense, there can only be one goal. It is him. What else should you hope for. What else could be your target. Only he was and is and will be. Everything else only lives in relationship to him, in dependence on him, with him.

God is. That is his purpose. He generates other purposes by his creativity. He created a world. He created living beings. He told them to be. Be with me, he said. I love you. The purpose of creation is to be with him, in his presence, in his love.

Christian faith can be seen as the return to the original purpose. It is the return to the only everlasting purpose. It is the only completely adequate purpose. He is giving purpose by his presence, by his creativity, by his love. When I find him, I know. When I encounter his presence, I feel and realize it. The bible calls it a peace beyond reason, which is there with him! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts