If one day the car was completely destroyed in an accident which also left the man unable to ever drive again, would the key still have Purpose? Would the nail still have Purpose?

If the Purpose of the man was to serve some other thing, but the man did not serve his Purpose, then would the car or key or nail still have Purpose?

This method of studying the question of "purpose" leads to this dilemma: If man is to serve a purpose, then the thing he serves must have a purpose of its own. Otherwise, the man will be serving a useless thing. If one's purpose is to serve something which has no purpose, (like the key serving a car which is destroyed), then one has no purpose. But even if the thing which man serves has purpose, then the thing, which is served by that other thing (which man must serve) must also have purpose. And that other thing must serve yet another which must serve yet another. The quest for purpose then might seem to be never ending unless there is an ultimate "something" which is its own reason for existing. In order for there to be any purpose to life there has to be something which needs to serve no other purpose. In other words, there needs to be a 'God' who is accountable to nothing and no one. There really is no way around it. Only in this could we find our Ultimate Purpose. But where could anyone find this?

It was reported that Napoleon Bonaparte once had one of his officers court martialed and sentenced to death for some matter. The mother of the convicted man pleaded with Napoleon to have mercy on her son. The General replied, "Madam, your son does not deserve mercy." To which the mother replied, "Sir, if he deserved it, it would not be mercy."

Mercy is a strange thing. It can only be given to those who do not deserve it. It can only exist if there is no reason for it. In fact, if ever there was a reason for mercy it would cease to be mercy.

Mercy can serve no purpose higher than itself. By definition it is impossible to have a purpose other than itself. Even if one says that mercy serves compassion or love, it can be argued that both compassion and love are encompassed in mercy, mercy being the expression of love and compassion. The three, love, mercy, and compassion, are basically the same thing.

Mercy does not need to be justified. It is a law unto itself. It exists in a class different from all creation. Because mercy can have no reason, it cannot be unreasonable. Rather, it is "non-reasonable." Reason is not applicable to it. It is beyond and above reason. Mercy therefore is one thing which can take us out of our dilemma. It is possibly the Ultimate Purpose of everything.

Mercy should not only be associated with forgiveness or pardon. Giving one's time to another, giving an encouraging word or assistance of any kind, can all be acts of mercy if done without ulterior motives. If one helps another because of an expectation of reward, be it financial. emotional, or otherwise, then one's action would be more an investment than an act of mercy. But true mercy mirrors love. What about love? Can there ever be a reason for love? Is love subject to anything? When you love someone, is it because you get something in return? If so, then your love is really for the thing you get in return and not for the person. Or is your love also higher than reason? The sayings: "God is merciful" and "God is love" might be worth considering.

Here are some more sayings concerning love. Are these true? How do these relate to one's purpose? What relationship do these have with sensitivity and respect for one's fellow man? How do these relate to morality?

Love seeks the welfare of others before itself.

Love is patient.

Love is forgiving.

Love is not arrogant but humble.

Love does not seek its own glory.

Love gives freedom.

Love is respectful of others.

Love is accepting of other people even with their faults.

Love is faithful.

In the first chapter we treated generosity as if it was good. Is generosity a form of mercy?

Could you live without mercy? In other words, if you had the option to receive nothing else but only what you deserve in life (the good and the bad), could you survive that option?

Is our Purpose to serve the dictates of mercy?

Must everything have a purpose?

Are we made by mercy? Are we made for mercy?

Do you believe that you exist to serve a purpose other than to be happy and comfortable, and only for fulfilling your own personal goals and desires?

Do you think that there is some being in whom all things find meaning and who needs nothing to justify his, her, or its own existence?

Do you think that people generally act in ways which serve the purpose for which they were made?

How often do you think we use our free will to make choices which work against our purpose?

Could it be morally wrong to use something for a purpose for which it was not intended?

If we use a pencil as an ice pick the pencil would probably be destroyed. If we use a pair of pliers as a spanner it might damage both the bolt and the pair of pliers. If we use our faculties such as our speech, intelligence, anger, sexuality, senses, or emotions in ways they were not meant to be used, can they be damaged or destructive?

Returning to the story of the car, suppose it was not destroyed but the man was still unable to ever drive again. Let us suppose also that he really loved his vehicle and for sentimental reasons kept it anyway, would the car still have purpose? Which is it that really gave the car purpose then, the fact that the man used it or the fact that he loved it and wanted it? Was it then the man's use of the car which gave it purpose, or was it his love?

In the chapter on "Truth,” it was suggested that the will of authority, in a sense, creates truth. If love is the ultimate authority and love expresses itself in mercy, then is mercy the Ultimate Truth?

Do you find comfort or feel a greater right to be here when you feel loved and wanted?

If there is someone greater than Man whom we are to serve? Do you think that you have a purpose because that someone loves you?

Does fighting to survive on a daily basis, schoolwork, chores, surviving the situation at home, etc. make it difficult to even think about purpose or any other seemingly irrelevant philosophical stuff? Or does it make it more relevant to you?

If love is what gives purpose, is there anything more precious that anyone can give to another?

Is it easy to serve the demands of love?

If everyone was made for love, then is it right to refuse any appropriate gesture of love by another person?

A point to ponder

Although human reasoning is incapable of figuring out what the ultimate purpose is, it is quite capable of figuring out the opposite. It can figure out if something is not the ultimate purpose. If, for example, it is suggested that to be wealthy, or to have power is our ultimate purpose, then reason may analyze this suggestion and conclude that both wealth and power serve man so that neither can be ultimate in themselves. Perhaps the most common view is that man's ultimate purpose is to be happy. But yet again, man's happiness still serves man, so happiness itself, cannot be his purpose. Happiness though might very well be an effect of man fulfilling his purpose.

But perhaps by taking man's happiness as an ultimate purpose, people are actually living as if they themselves are their own purposes, or simply put, each man is his own "God.? This presumption, however, also might seem unreasonable. It might seem self-serving, arbitrary, and presumptuous. The very fact that man, quite naturally seeks meaning in life suggests that he is not his own 'God.' So still, reason keeps asking the question- "Is there a God?" and man keeps seeking to find one (a God who is the ultimate purpose).

With all this, human reasoning might still have a part to play in man's search for meaning. The purpose of seeking a logical reason for morality might be to bring one to the limits of reason, to the point where one can only proceed in faith. Perhaps the mind, seeking purpose but unequipped to find it, is supposed to keep the seeker of 'God' restless. Then, choosing to love in spite of the frustrations, the person finds 'God.' Perhaps this insatiable "Why?" is a natural consequence (the fruit) of seeking self-knowledge and is what drives man from paradise to frustration until belief in Love redeems him. Perhaps it is this search for the answer to this insatiable "Why?" which predisposes Man to religious belief. Perhaps in this way man is designed to search for "God" and to find God.

Activity: Think of the person whom you dislike the most. Perhaps this is the one who caused you most pain. Perhaps it is your own self. Whoever it is, visualize that person. and try to forgive him or her. Next, in your heart, tell that person that you forgive them. Plan some way to assist that person without the person's knowledge. Wish the person well in some practical way. For example, pray that he or she wins the lottery. And help the person in one way or another. Write in your journal how your actions make you feel. After a few days write again how you feel, and note any difference.