The Point of Life, a proposition

When I was sitting with this question, I came to approach it with a little better understanding by asking:

why “one” point?

Because, one point didn’t seem quite accurate.

“One” point felt flat.

There are multiple dimensions to our existence,

therefore was it fair to try to funnel everything to a pinhead point?

So I figured, I’ll start somewhere. Maybe there is not “One Point” to life, but Two Points (broadly speaking). One might argue “Three Points” (ish).

• (a brief aside on the above)

  The following “Two Points” cannot be practically separated without us losing our point again, though.

  So, in a sense, it still makes practical sense say there is “one point” (for if two entities cannot be separated, then it is risky to separate them as though there were a choice between the two).

All that being said… I found it helpful for myself to think of this question “What is the point of life?” in terms of parts:

Universal and Unique.

Just bear in mind, the two are interrelated -

the human soul would becomes less human (and therefore no longer human) if either was removed.

The Universal (communal) and Unique (individual) cannot be separated.

The Points of Life.

1.        There is a Universal point of life. This is the same for all humans:

a.       to serve and love God, and

b.       to serve and love our fellow man.

2.       There is a Unique Point of life. This will be varied for each human.

(Debatable 3rd point). To perfect Points 1 and 2.

• Point of Life 1-A

  Point of Life 1A: Relationship with God (to serve and love God)

  Our first and foremost Point of life (1-A), relates to our relationship with our Creator.

  If one chooses to believe that there exists no God, no Creator,

  then that will orient a person to a way of life that honors that belief (in Point of life 2).

  However, speaking as a Catholic, my belief is that until a person does seek the True God, then Point of Life 1-A will be a continued point of contention for an individual.

  Can Point 1-A ever be truly fulfilled in this life?

  Not fully, no.

  Even as Christians, as Catholics (who I believe do know the One True God, the ‘Unknown God’, as Paul writes about),

  we will always be discovering more about the God who revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ.

  He is the Mystery of Mysteries.

  There will be no end to our awe and discovery, not here on our earthly pilgrimage, and not in the lights of eternity.

• Point of Life 1-B

  Point of Life 1-B: Relationship with Fellowman (to serve and love neighbor)

  So a person may believe in the One True God Jesus Christ, and have a fruitful devotion to Him.

  Or at the least, be living with firm conviction in their faith.

  But they may still be struggling with relationship with fellowman.

  Perhaps a person struggles with Selfishness/Greed. Maybe Envy.

  In Catholic thought, our relation to our Fellowman directly correlates with how well we know and love and serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

  (If we are still attached to worldly ways, still struggle to serve neighbor, then we must look at our Point 1A. We must look again soberly at our relationship with God.)

  Can Point of Life 1-B ever be fulfilled in this life?

  Not fully, no.

  Even if we devoted our entire life to loving and serving neighbor, sacrificing earthly needs and goods for our fellowman,

  there will always be more for us to learn and love about the souls around us.

  Service is a never-ending cycle, because it directly corresponds with our being made in the image of God.

• Point of Life 2

  We each walk a uniquely-lit path.

  We carry a torch that seems to enlighten a way that has been somehow tailor-made.

  But this Unique Path is co-dependent upon the Universal Path, whether we understand how, or not.

  For example:

  we each grapple with Points 1A and 1B, in some fashion.

  We are constantly evolving (digressing or progressing) in our relationships with our Creator, and with our fellowman.

  We each are a unique embodiment of love, with a unique way in which we relay the face of God to our fellowman.

  And so Point of Life 2 is embodying that marriage; living out the relationship we have with both God and Man in a way that calls to our deepest being.

• Point of Life 3

  To Perfect Point of life 1 and 2.

  This is a debatable “Point” of Life, because this point is implicit within the first 2.

  Perfecting Point 1-A and 1-B is a never-ending project as we live.

  As well, perfecting Point 2 will be ever-ending and ever-changing as we change and as we perfect Point of Life 1.

  But, in order to “pull together” the 2 Points of Life, one could argue that this Point of Life 3 is a valid addition.

  Our through-reaching goal should be to:

  ever-perfect our relationships with God and Fellowman, and how we embody these relationships.

• A thought about “Abstraction,” and How Our Abstract Lives may Contribute to our feeling unsatisfactory about the First Point of Life (to Love God + Love Neighbor)

  We are in a world of abstraction.

  Internet is where many of us abide for entertainment or community. We can order almost anything online rather than being seen, going to other physical places. We don't even need to use real names or real photos of ourselves.

  We can disappear on a whim, if we wish.

  We live in a state of living where our Abstracted lives can feel very real, too.

  We can feel like we’re loving and serving God, by donating to this-or-that-cause without ever leaving our house; maybe by watching Mass live online.

  We can feel like we’re loving and serving our Fellowman, by liking a photo or sending a text, maybe playing a virtual game on a better day.

  And yet… in these Abstractions, we feel unsatisfied... we are afraid of being Seen and Named, and therefore possibly Critiqued.

  We want to love & serve God + Fellowman…

  without getting hurt.

  In a world where Abstraction is increasingly relevant,

  there is a corresponding fear of being Real to God and to others – because being real means being hurt.

  The key part in loving&serving God and Fellowman is Embodiment (rather than Abstraction).

  So if we are stuck in Abstraction, then we are not loving and serving God or Fellowman in the truest manner.

  And this comes back to Point of Life 2: living out (embodying) our relationships with God and Fellowman.

  And Embodiment comes back to Point of Life 1: we cannot fathom embodying our relationships with God and Fellowman until we know what our relationships are.

  We cannot perfect Point of Life 1 or 2 without the pains/pangs of growth.

  So until we become Real, until we dare to Embody our relationships with God and with Man (engaging in our physical reality), we will not be satisfied with Points 1 or 2.

  Abstraction thwarts the Point of Life, because Abstraction is safe.

  - - - -

  “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe?

  'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

  ― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

• Why are we unsatisfied with the First Point of Life: to love God, and to love neighbor?

  Simply (except not really simple), it is because we are fallen – our intellect, our nature, our spirits, are fallen… and we therefore have an

  imperfect understanding of the true nature and value of God,

  and an imperfect understanding of the true nature and value of our fellowman

  (and an imperfect understanding of our own nature and value, for that matter).

  And so if we do feel unsatisfied with Point of Life 1, we can be certain that we have many mysteries to discover.

  If we feel unsatisfied with the Point of Life 1, then we know exactly where the Point of Our Life should be oriented.

  There is always more to discover. There is always deeper to dive.

  “Come farther up, come farther in.” - CS Lewis, The Last Battle

• Two separate side notes:

  1.      

  If the First Point of Life stated is difficult to get to,

  try the apophatic method of discovering:

  ask,

  what is the point of life not?

  (Sometimes we can find clearer answers by ruling-out possibilities, than by collecting possibilities.)

  2.       

  For Point of Life 1-A,

  maybe instead of “God” you wanted to answer something like,

  “Serving and loving neighbor can make sense, but I’d replace ‘God’ with ‘Truth.’”

  And to that I would dare to challenge:

  you will not be able to find Truth without also finding God.

  The only thing (person) deeper and older and clearer than Truth is God Himself, who is the Founder and Orchestrator of Truth. Who IS Truth.

  So while “Truth” is a noble and close answer,

  it doesn’t reach the Source.

  (That being said, though… if you do decide that “Truth” is your 1-A Point of Life… you may be in for a deeper surprise.)

As long we choose not engage in Point 3 of life (perfecting ourselves in Points 1 and 2),

then we will feel that our Life has No Point.

Or, that there is something “missing.”

That’s because if we do not recognize Points 1 and 2, thereby activating Point 3, our life will have something missing.

Point 3 of Life is Action'; it is the struggle for perfecting our Points 1 and 2.

My final note: pray, and meditate.

(And do not fear getting hurt.)