Sunday, September 23, 2007

Divinely Pointless

It occurs to me to wonder if parental adults, as opposed to childless adults, ponder the purpose of life question as much as childless adults. This is because I wonder if perhaps the purpose of life is to 'beget' life yet again. Is the reason we are here simply to make more of us? Simply to perpetuate ourselves?

Seemingly, to have children would almost seem like enough purpose in life, all of itself. What more accomplishment could one ask for, than to bring children into the world? And that being said, what is the purpose of childless adults? I mean, once we are adults, and no longer children ourselves, we are no longer the ends to the means of our parents' purpose, but now adrift with our own purpose. Unless of course, we do not have children.

IF, and I really mean IF the purpose of life is to have children, and one has come to that point in life where they will not be having children, then what is their part in the play that is life, on the stage that is the world around us, our planet? In those terms, are we not simply extras, supporting cast, bit players? Or can we carve out a more meaningful part in our lives? Hmmm, choices, choices... custodian to the child-bearers, or maintenance man to the baby set?

Or perhaps a different role altogether... A role not filled by doting parents, failing parents, drunk and worthless parents? Perhaps there is yet purpose of a noble sort reserved, in fact, for those unencumbered by duty to child. What of you, childless or child rearing? What is the purpose of life? What is the meaning of life? Do YOU have meaning in your life? Do you know YOUR purpose?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I don't think parents are any different than anyone else; some are introspective like you and ponder the purpose of life and others are thoughtless clods who clomp through life not careing about what affect they have on other people.
Having children won't change your core personality; you'll still be introspective...good chance your kids will be too.