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The Meaning of Life
an essay by Merlin Missy 
mrwilson@umr.edu, missy@darklair.com
Copyright 1997
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     Hello.  My name is Troy McClure.  You may remember me from
such essays as ...  No no no.  That's not it.  But did it make you
smile?  Good.  That's the point.
     Now before we get into the heavy bits, I'll let you in on a
few things you should know.  I'm not a philosopher.  I'm not a
minister.  I'm not even a doctor, Jim.  This essay is simply a
means of expressing some things that have become true for me.  They
may not be true for you, and if not, fair enough.  You are free to
follow your own path if it makes you happy.  And that too is the
point.
     Almost anyone who has ever glanced up into the night sky, or
stood still to watch a rainbow, or has held a newborn baby, or has
just breathed in deeply on the first day of Spring, has wondered
what the meaning of this odd life might be.  People have been
offering their own interpretations of the answer ever since the
beginning of time, some of the more famous answerers being Jesus of
Nazareth, Mohammed of Mecca, and the Monty Python cast.  The
answers, or in the case of the latter, non-answers, have been as
diverse as the people who gave them.  Each one is right for some,
and each one is wrong for some.  As I said before, this may not be
right for you, but then again, it just might be.
     The meaning of life is joy.
     Now, before you click the Back button, or delete the message,
let me elaborate.  Then you can exit the document and go upon your
merry way.
     Achieving joy is sometimes the most difficult thing anyone can
do.  Often, it seems everything is stacked against one's own quest
for some state of happiness.  I won't lie to you: it is.  There are
many people who, for whatever reason, don't want to see other
people happy.  These are usually unhappy creatures themselves, and
should be pitied.  The best way to deal with people who do not want
to see you happy was given two thousand years ago by that fellow
from Nazareth: forgive them.  Believe it or not, this is amazingly
effective.  It will not only make you feel better, it will also
annoy and confuse the hell out of them, and that is a joy of its
own. :)
     Aside from forgiving your antagonists, what can you do to be
happy?  That I can't tell you.  Only you know what will really make
you happy, and if you don't know, now would be a very good time to
ask yourself.  Once you know what makes you happy, do it.  It's
very simple.  If you like to swim, swim.  If you enjoy writing
stories, by all means write them.  If you like singing at the top
of your lungs to Barry Manilow songs, do that too.  I won't join
you, but please feel free.
     The codicil to this is, if what makes you happy makes someone
else unhappy, or hurts them, or will hurt you, *don't do it*.  Find
something else; the world's big enough to find joys aplenty.  You
will never be truly happy if your happiness hurts someone, and if
you hold any stock in karma, it'll come back to haunt you with
interest.  So don't do it in the first place.  'Nuff said.
     Here comes the secret to really achieving joy: help as many
others as you can do the exact same thing.  Now, when the words
"community service" pop up, often the first thing that runs through
anyone's mind is, "Booooooring."  That simply means one hasn't
found the right place yet.  People in numbers beyond count need
you, your time, your energy, and yes, your money.  Sadly enough,
the world will never lack in poor, hungry, homeless, or lonely
people, no matter how much we might try to change that.  But you
will discover that helping just one of those people will bring to
you joy beyond price.  I know it's hard to find time, but you may
discover that time has a way of working itself around what needs to
be done, and the benefits are more than worth it.
     It sounds very trite to say, "Read to sick children," "Visit
the elderly," and so on, and that may not be what you are meant to
do, although if you try it, you might be surprised.  Maybe you're
better at building houses for Habitat for Humanity, or listening to
someone over a crisis line, or babysitting your neighbour's kids
while she goes to the grocery store.  You know best what your
skills are, and what makes you happy.  Do you like literature? 
Help someone for a few hours a week learn to read.  Are you an
artist?  Assist the art teacher at your local elementary school. 
Are you good with numbers?  Math tutors are a precious commodity at
any level.  Do you like music?  Take a senior citizen to a concert.
     Yes, after a while, any kind of volunteering will wear you
down, make you wonder if what you are doing is any good at all. 
When that happens, stop.  Rest yourself.  You will do no one any
good when you no longer enjoy it.  Then, when you are ready,
return, or find another place.  But do help someone.  It will make
you happier to do it than not.
     If you truly have no time, money *is* needed by most any cause
imaginable, and again, only you know where it will be best suited. 
Making donations can also be a source of joy, and can make a
remarkable gift if you donate in some else's name, or no name at
all.  However you choose to help, know this: you will be able to
remember and cherish the joy you gave another twice as long as that
you gave solely to yourself.  And that is a warm happiness of its
own.
     I won't even begin to tell you what religion has to do with
attaining joy.  This particular essay was largely inspired by a
Christmas Eve sermon in a United Church of Christ service.  It was
the first time in my memory that I could recall being told in
church that it was okay to be happy, and I was amazed.  Before I go
further, I should probably tell you something.  I'm not a
Christian, much to the consternation of my family.  I am more
religious than most people would think; my personal pantheon
encompasses more goddesses than gods, but that it what is real for
me.  You must choose what is real for you, and believe, or
disbelieve for that matter, with all your heart.  At the same time,
do not disallow others to believe as they will; the argument of "My
God is bigger than your God," is one you will never win (although
stating it in those terms is sometimes amusing in an evil sort of
way).  I've studied just enough comparative mythology to see that
most messengers have pretty much the same story.  It's entirely up
to you to pick what version you want to hear.  You have the right
to believe in whatever God or gods you choose, and if you believe
in no gods at all, that is also your right.  Believe in whatever
brings you the most joy, but don't use that as a means to keep
someone else from that same joy.  That's not the point of having
faith.
     Finally (beginningly?) be good to yourself.  Don't be
miserable simply because you feel guilty for enjoying yourself. 
That does no one any good, and will only lead to large analyst
bills later.  Fulfill your responsibilities; letting *them* go will
only make you unhappy later.  On the other hand, don't feel
responsible for everything that goes wrong in the world.  You can't
change everything.  Do what you can to help others be happy, no
more and no less, and be happy with yourself with what you can
accomplish.  If you have to, say no.  When you *can* help, do.  If
you still want to sing along to Barry Manilow, shut the door or buy
headphones.  Harm no one.  Dream big dreams.
     Be happy.

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quit