Alexandria Griffith: Backpacking and God

 While I was backpacking I thought a lot about God. I thought about how the people around me claimed to be having religious experiences but I was not. I was confused as to why I was not. Was there something wrong with me? Do I think to much? Was I missing something? Maybe I was not thinking enough? I heard so many stories and I wasnt expecting to meet God or anything like that but I at least wanted to be able to have a conversation of religion with someone who was not in my class and see what they had to say. I wanted to hear a new perspective from someone I did not know. I had been backpacking alone one day and made it to the top of a mountain and was just sitting looking at the view. I was started pulling snacks out of my pack and mixing a flavor pack into my water. This man came down and sat next to me on the rock I was on and looked at me and asked me what I thought the purpose of life was. I starred at him with a blank stare. I did not have an answer. I first off was not expecting a stranger to talk to me, and second was not expecting him to ask me such a loaded question. I just stared at him and said I didnt know. I told him I dont know what the purpose of life is. He told me that that was okay and then I asked him the same question. I asked him what he believed the purpose of life was. He explained to me that be believes the purpose of life is to spread the word of God. It was very interesting to hear him say that, but I believed that there was no way that could be my purpose of life. I was raised with no religion and do not consider myself to be religious so I do not think that the purpose of life (for me) is to spread the word of God. This man and I talked back and forth and I enjoyed the conversation we shared. I walked alone for a bit and just thought about the same question he asked me. "What is the purpose of life?" The mans purpose of life was to spead the word of God. But that is not my purpose. So then can people have different purposes? I believe that they can. I believe that each and every individual can have a different purpose within the world. I believe that we all find fufillment and purpose in different ways. The man explained to me that he felt a sense of purpose when he spread the word of God. He told me while I hike to think about where I feel a sense of purpose. I thought for awhile about the activities I do and what makes me feel the most fufilled. I decided that I feel the most fufillment and purpose within my life when I am doing my EMT and fire courses. So then I feel the most purpose when I am helping others. The way I help others is through being a first responder. Therefore would that make helping other my purpose? Would serving my local community be my purpose? It took me a long time to wrap my head around all of these questions that were in my head and I was finally able to decide that MY purpose in life is to serve and help others. I learned a lot about myself and the way I think and act. So, maybe after all I did get my religious experience I was looking for. 

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