The Meaning of Life

The meaning to life is one of the core questions we face. The ultimate answer to this question will reflect how one has concluded what the real state of reality is and therefore how we should adapt to it. However there are a few universal truths that seem to be deeply placed withi us as human beings. These are:To live - The desire to surviveTo love and be loved - The desire to have communityTo learn - The desire to understand, know, and createTo laugh - The desire to experience joyTo leave a legacy - The desire to impact the world after we dieThese five desires seem to reflect the meaning of life for most people unless they have been so wounded physically and/or emotionally that they have lost hope or inner balance. For a functional human being these seem to normally become their purpose for life. As I Christian I take these five values and see them reflected in my world view. To live is to have this life as a gift and eternal life in the kingdom of heavenTo love and be loved is to know family and friends here and a divine love as well in the person of Jesus ChristTo learn is to study the two books of God, one the creation and the other the scripture to strive to understand the mind of God and conform my thinking and actions to His. I am to think God's thoughts after Him. To laugh is to enjoy the goodness of creation within the framework of God's law and to know the heavenly joy of God within my own heartTo leave a legacy is to find my calling and accomplish it during my life time. This will help build the kingdom of God on earth. I will be rewarded forever for a faithful legacy lived by a life of love on the earth.Now many will disagree with the Christian application of these five desires. But the meaning of life would seem to have to address all of these issues regardless of the various world views which would strive to answer them. One way to evaluate a world view would be in its ability to provide a meaning for life based on these five needs of our humanity.