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Will I see my purpose in the restless waves of the sea
A purpose that will set me free
Each wave has its intent
But what of me, will I be forever in torment
Every Wave in the Sea has a Purpose
Today, we’ll shift focus from life to purpose. What is my purpose on this Earth? Is it the most asked question by those living in this world? At a time in my life, finding my purpose was like finding a needle in a haystack. There is another question: Why must I have a purpose in life? So, together, we will set about answering these questions and, along the way, discover some things we never knew until we read these words.
What is Our Purpose Here On Earth
Let us start by looking at the meaning and context of the word purpose in this essay:
“something set up as an object or end to be attained : intention: resolution, determination”[1]
I would accept Merriam-Webster’s dictionary’s explanation of the word purpose, as above, for this article.
Next, in looking for the perspective in this article, I found an excellent description:
“Big P Purpose is goal-oriented. It’s about striving toward something external and often audacious, like becoming a particular person, achieving an ultimate goal, or proving oneself somehow. While this kind of purpose can be motivating, it can also be anxiety-inducing because the goalpost is constantly shifting.
Little p purpose, on the other hand, is process-oriented. It’s not about reaching a final destination but about engaging in activities that light you up, bring fulfillment, and connect you with others meaningfully. Unlike Big P Purpose, it is inherently abundant and sustainable—it’s something you do rather than chase.”[2]
Finding my Purpose
In a world of seven million people, each person would have a different perspective on their purpose in life. One of these viewpoints is found in religious groups. For instance, religious groups have teachings on how life must be lived in our time on Earth and what happens to us after the death of our bodies here. The result is that each religion could have a different lifestyle purpose to offer its members. Here are some interesting statistics for you to think about:
“There are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84 percent of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion,” the analysis states.[3]
For example, within the Christian and Islamic religions, which constitute a large portion of the world’s religions, we will find both the ‘Big P’ and the ‘Small P’ situations. We might say that the members of these religions who follow the Little p will have their life purpose mapped out, with those on the Big P more living their lives of shifting sands.
If religion is not your thing, you will be part of the sixteen per cent of the global population who feel the same as you.
Now, let me also say that both Big P and Little P are found in the world’s population, but I’m left thinking that more people with these categories are in religious groups. This is because religion offers doctrine (belief in rules), making it easier for people to follow set rules and see their life purpose in these.
We need to make up our own minds for the rest of us in the sixteen percent bracket.
Let me tell you a little story.
One morning, an elderly man, while taking his usual stroll along the beach of a small village, noticed a young boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea. The man was intrigued. “Why are you throwing those starfish into the sea, young man?”
“Cause,” the boy replied sheepishly, putting his hands behind his back and bowing his head.
“Cause what?”
“Cause they will die if I don’t.”
“Well, there are many starfish on this beach. Do you expect you’ll pick them all up before they die?”
“No.”
“Then why bother?”
“Cause.”
“Cause what?”
“’Cause it’s my purpose.”
The man realized that the child was too young to understand the meaning of the word purpose and asked, “What does purpose mean?”
“I dunno.”
“Then how do you know it’s your purpose?”
“When I told my mummy I was going to the beach to throw starfish into the sea, she said it was redikilis. My Nanna said it was not; my purpose was to save some.”
The man was taken aback. “I must say that is a fine purpose. Well done and good luck.”
Is finding my purpose possible
We have cleared the meaning of the word purpose above. Now to the crux of the matter.
‘Purpose is a journey, not a destination.’
This is the opinion I have formed in my life’s journey. I’ve found that my purpose has changed as I’ve gone through life. Some days, it was this, and others that. Here’s another story for you:
John’s creator said, “Well done, John, you have spent your life wisely,” as he entered the after-death waiting room for his interview.
John replied, somewhat surprised, “I didn’t do anything special so you could notice.”
“Well, doing something special, as you term it, was never my plan for you anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“To start with, you enjoyed your life, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You were kind and understanding to your fellow humans, right?”
“Well, yes, I did always try.”
“We chatted a lot, didn’t we? And you applied my counsel, well, mostly. The times you didn’t and things soured for you, you always admitted your faults, and we sorted those faults out.
So yes, you qualify for the next round, step into your succeeding life.”
Finding your purpose is related to what you believe is expected of you. If you think with no doubt that you know what your purpose is, then pursue it. If you don’t, then take a thought for John’s life:
- He never saw himself as created for any specific purpose other than:
- Did he enjoy his life? Yes, he did.
- Was he kind and understanding toward his fellow humans? Yes, he was.
- Did he have a relationship with the person he believed to be his creator?
Yes, he did. He frequently chatted and listened to the advice he received from this Spirit inside him.
- Did he follow most of the instructions given to him by his creator? Well, mostly. When he didn’t do what he was counselled, he apologised and corrected his ways.
How could we summarize the above paragraph? What you read is an example of one man, John’s, purpose in his stay on this earth. Every human will have a different answer. You may find commonality within religious groups, but even those will offer different variations.[4]
So, next month, we will examine the weaving of love, life, and purpose.
Until then, whatever your situation, believe in a miracle.
Until next month
Peter-James
[1] PURPOSE Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
[2] Can Religion Be Your Purpose? | Psychology Today
[3] 84 percent of the world population has faith; a third are Christian – Washington Times
[4] https://www.christianity.com/church/if-there-is-one-truth-why-are-there-so-many-doctrines.html
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