What is the purpose of your life?

A friend recently asked this question on Facebook -

St Paul's Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren
By jedyooo (Own work)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

"Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? I haven't figured out what mine is supposed to be yet!"

I had to reply that I had thought I was the only one who hadn't figured it out yet. Her question made me think a lot about my life's purpose and, even though I have spent a lot of time considering what my purpose might be over the years, her question made me really concentrate on the subject. This is what I came up with.

We are all unique. We each have something to contribute to the world. What we contribute may not be unique in itself, but it's the way we do it that is entirely unique. Compare Mozart and John Williams. Degas and Warhol. Christopher Wren and Kengo Kuma. Compare your grandmother's scones with your neighbour's scones. All different. All have their own signature.

Kengo Kuma's Great (Bamboo) Wall
By ぷくぷく (Own work)
[GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html),
CC-BY-SA-3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
or FAL], via Wikimedia Commons

We each have a talent. Some ability to be creative. Do not imagine that talent includes only being a painter, musician, actor or architect, sculptor or author. Talents show in many ways; teaching, engineering, mothering, some form of sporting prowess, sewing, communion with nature, writing, inspiring people, computing, fostering children, medicine, religious leadership, being a good friend, caring for animals, business acumen, home making.....The list is endless. We each have something that we are really good at, a talent that others can admire. When we combine our talents with our unique signatures, we have something rich to offer the world.

However, I believe that there is a third element that needs to be integrated before this offering can be called a purpose. Service. Service to humanity. Whether this is direct, such as being a good doctor or mother, or whether it is indirect, such as taking care of the earth or nature in some way, is immaterial. Service  to others adds an important dimension to one's unique way of using and presenting a talent. A spiritual richness. Meaning. Purpose.

Using and presenting one's unique talent in a loving and meaningful way is what I believe to be our purpose in life.

So, for those who are having trouble with deciding why they are here, on this earth, why they are bothering, have a look inside yourself. Contemplate the things you are good at and enjoy doing, no matter how insignificant they may seem to you. Add a large measure of love. Explore ways of using your talents to the advantage of others and you may find that you have discovered your purpose in life.