The Meaning of Life - Not Just Another Dust in the Wind Theory

I grew up in the south in the 1960's. Married when I was 18 and joined the Army when I was 23. I traveled to Germany then back to the states where I lived in Connecticut for a while and then Tennessee for 10 years. I am now living in Maine.

Of all the traveling I have done in my life I have heard people asking one question constantly. It doesn't matter if you are religious or not. We all want to know "What is the meaning of life?" I myself have asked that question a thousand times.

Socrates and Plato and a thousand other deep thinkers of their times have tried to define or explain the meaning of life. Each with his own perception and understanding and most times with a very complicated explanation.

It was not until I took up hiking in the mountains of Tennessee that I had plenty of time to ponder the complexities of this age old question. Being a Christian I was raised to believe certain things and to look at life in certain ways. But as I got older and began studying and searching for myself I began to realize that what I was taught as a child was not as complicated as some would have had me believe.

I always wondered why God would have put us here simply to suffer through this life. After all he does love us and of that I have no doubt. So why then? I studied and pondered and reflected in deep thought just like many have before me, and like them, to no avail.

Then one day while hiking the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee I came to a clearing overlooking a valley. It was a clear day with the sun shining bright. As I looked out across the valley I saw an eagle soaring on the wind. And as usual the thought crossed my mind that it would be really nice to be able to soar like that. Then I thought, do eagles look at us and wish they were like us?

That is when something inside me clicked. It was more like an explosion or an awakening of sorts. The meaning of life was so simple that I had looked right past it thinking that it would be some big discovery of some sort. Some words of wisdom that would make me look like a genius.Instead three words kept going through my brain. Thundering as if God himself was speaking them directly into my thoughts.

We spend our entire lives from the moment we take our first breath til our last one is used up trying to be something we aren't. Whether we are trying to get a job by seeming more experienced or trying to win someones heart by becoming the person they are looking for. We act differently in different situations. Why?

It is in our nature I suppose or at least the nature of the flesh. But God's nature is to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And since we are to strive to be more "God-like", which I used to think meant to try to be perfect, then the meaning of life is nothing more than to "JUST BE YOU!"

Yep, it is just that simple. Be you no matter what happens or where you are or who you are with or what you are trying to achieve. If you can do this you will be something that the majority of people will never be. Good, bad or indifferent you will just be you.

John Dyer is the owner of: thisonlinepage.com

T.H.I.S stands for Truth Honesty Integrity Sincerity - something the author has found too little of online.

MORE RESOURCES:

Inspirational Folk Music Legend Odetta Dies at 77 - Associated Content

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html%3Fid%3D1027105cid=1277071964ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNGiGkkL5ZED-BmRupMQ6OP5j6t8IQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=gF0nxUTlutAJimgurl=a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.nationalpost.com/arts/1027108.bin%3Fsize%3D404x272 width=80 height=54 alt= border=1brfont size=-2National Post/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1266418/inspirational_folk_music_legend_odetta.htmlcid=1277071964ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNHzwmNlO-mItpO_Qkxbfrlwj6qTXwbInspirational/b Folk Music Legend Odetta Dies at 77/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAssociated Content,nbsp;COnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Sarah F. Sullivan, published Dec 03, 2008 Odetta, the mighty-voiced folk singer and champion for the African-American civil rights movement, died Tuesday b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm%3FID%3D21063cid=1277071964ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNEdWNjGvf6NuZI6jq9x7cUfreLGGQFolk Singer and Civil Rights Icon Odetta Holmes Dies/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrSheWired/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277071964hl=ennobrall 635 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Hematologists Honored With Mentor Awards From the ... - MarketWatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Inspirational-Hematologists-Honored-With-Mentor/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B0EEF7475-761E-4E11-A4F2-48F848BEAF5E%257Dcid=1277290776ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNELzgX4U_syINwbwlJ932LykROB8AbInspirational/b Hematologists Honored With Mentor Awards From the b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 03, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- In recognition of the value the American Society of Hematology (ASH) places on mentorship, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational women - Metro Spirit

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://metrospirit.com/index.php%3Fcat%3D1211101074307265%26ShowArticle_ID%3D11020212084007803cid=1277185480ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNELp-FRzX6sXiXtOGb72ZZAmYG4IgbInspirational/b women/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMetro Spirit,nbsp;GAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Now in its second year, Anthony Page expands his Sister CEO celebration. And, in doing so, he hopes to do more than honor success stories. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational readings bridge generations at WHAT - Wicked Local Orleans

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.wickedlocal.com/orleans/fun/entertainment/books/x541374439/Inspirational-readings-bridge-generations-at-WHATcid=1277378274ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNHR4fTDnFt3JfpRN1m0V8Va69HFMAbInspirational/b readings bridge generations at WHAT/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWicked Local Orleans,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Melora B. North More than 50 years ago Edward R. Murrow hosted a radio program called “This I Believe.” It wasn’ta show highlighting the talents of such b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Says PeaceHealth#39;s stance inspirational - Bellingham Herald

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/letters/story/699978.htmlcid=0ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNG4B0qXnG2Y7_VfiB8byh1EkZVJ4QSays PeaceHealth#39;s stance binspirational/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBellingham Herald,nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobrDec 3, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1PeaceHealth is being resilient and unwavering, due to a moral conviction, especially in the midst of sacrifice and suffering is a quality that inspires most b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational Gift for Any Occasion - Extra Newspaper

Inspirational Evie, 13, wins major award - Suffolk Free Press

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.suffolkfreepress.co.uk/news/InspirationalEvie-13-winsmajor-award.4757660.jpcid=0ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNEiqyemreK9ntX5_SfrKqhLgeyEkAbInspirational/b Evie, 13, wins major award/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSuffolk Free Press,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Staff Copy AN binspirational/b teenager who has pursued her sporting dreams despite being unable to walk or stand has won national recognition. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

The inspirational Rudely Interrupted - Tandem

quot;Sergioquot; to Premier At Sundance - UN Dispatch

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.undispatch.com/archives/2008/12/sergio_to_premi.phpcid=1277538699ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNGe9A3kSUiwh6zSDA81mOFsvEgmUAquot;Sergioquot; to Premier At Sundance/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fUN Dispatchnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Along with War Child#39;s DC premiere on Friday, this has been a great week for binspirational/b humanitarian films! Long before Susan Rice was Obama#39;s pick for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Deer Park mourn loss of inspirational #39;Tam#39; - Tamworth Herald

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/sport/Deer-Park-mourn-loss-inspirational-Tam/article-522479-detail/article.htmlcid=0ei=i-44Sc6PBZqO9QTWv_GWCQusg=AFQjCNFxXu9PzV2UBzlq-DcJM5VNc3DFUgDeer Park mourn loss of binspirational/b #39;Tam#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTamworth Herald,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrDec 4, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1DEER Park FC and Tamworth non-league football in general is mourning the loss of club founder and stalwart David Llewelyn #39;Tam#39; Tamplin, who passed away at b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Inspirational - Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

Inspiration, the Living Force
These moments of awareness are powerful motivators. They boost our spirit and expand our view of certain joys we don't have the chance to appreciate every day.

Weapons of Mass Distraction
Anything that draws one away from the business of living and being worthy - such as drugs, alcohol, distractions of all descriptions, and sleep when the intent is oblivion, not to mention the idea of killing oneself - is a means of escaping, a little death, and death itself is the ultimate escape.Anything can be a means of avoiding problems.

Nurture Your Heart
Pregnant with her first child, Jill could barely contain her excitement over the dreams and hopes she cherished for her unborn baby, whom she had already named Mara (she was so sure it was a girl). She practiced the lullabies she would sing as she nursed Mara close to her breast.

Dont Ask Your Doctor
Perhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a drug to take to combat frustration from seeing so many drug ads. You know the ones I'm talking about.

Change Begins With Choice
Any day we wish we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge.

Looking for a Better World - What Every Person Can Do!
Each night, when I put my head on the pillow and turn my thoughts to things ethereal, I am hopeful that the world is a little better place than when I awoke that morning. I hope that the dissidents, extremists, murderers, plunderers, bigots, philanderers, cheaters, molesters and others of mean-spirit find that their chosen path is not a beneficial avenue.

Head First
I stepped up to the edge and looked down. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath.

As A Caterpillar
"Happiness can be as elusive as a fluttering butterlfy but as easily attainable as a crawling caterpillar. Put aside the net, and let it happen.

The Beauty of Life
"An unexamined life is not worth living."-- SocratesI have just finished reading a most astounding statement from A.

The Inspiration Factor
The first thing that an aspiring leader must realize is that they must be inspiring! That is, they must be capable of, and willing to inspire people on to greater things than if the leader were not in their lives.So, is this too grandiose an ideal for the average local business owner? Absolutely not.

Innovation Management - Being Receptive to Inspiration
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of diverse ideas and a number of novel ideas.

Dolphin Figurines evoke images of wild dolphins: How Do Dolphins Communicate?
Researchers are seeking to identify how dolphins communicate. Unfortunately it is like ancient history, once we can decipher the basic 'words' we think we have the message.

Charge Your Imagination (2)
As year 2004 winds up and professionals and corporate bodies plot strategies for business excellence in 2005 and beyond, it is time to put their Imagination to real work. In the first part of this message, IMAGINATION, as a person, started an inspirational charge for the professional and business class on what the world of business would be like in the year 2030.

8 Ways to Get Your Healthy Groove On
You've heard the saying, "You are what you eat." I say? "You Are What You Think!"The amount of time you spend reveling in wonderful moments of joy, contentment, inspiration, laughter, love and learning? will be directly proportional to your health, happiness, success, satisfaction, productivity and fulfillment!Maintain a healthy outlook through the power of a positive thought!1.

I Hate My Computer and Other Inspirational Thoughts
The New Year has not started out very well for Yours Truly. After the first day of the new year, my life went south for the rest of the winter.

Mitigating Factors
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 30, 2002I am writing for advice on a personal dilemma of the most personal nature. I am male, mid-40s, married 20 years.

Flaming Fire Within Our Bones
Jeremiah was certainly one of the most distinguished notables of the Old Testament. To read his messages and experiences is to become acquainted with a great servant of God.

For Inspiration Watch a Kite Fly Against the Wind
Given a steady wind and a properly balanced kite, the kite will soar to great heights. But if the nose of the kite is pointed downward, the same wind will send it crashing into the ground.

Body Calling: Eye Sight Cured Naturally
Lorenzo C. an inspiring young teenager who fell to the inevitable statistics of a major automobile accident.

Searching for the Meaning of Life!
Are you looking for the meaning of life?You work all day long, doing the right thing, caring for others, never breaking the law and generally being a pretty decent person.At the same time everything seems to go wrong, relationships just don't go the way you had planned, the boss has a nasty streak, petrol prices go up, you have an accident, the landlord tells you he wants you to move for no real good reason, yes, it goes on & on!How do you turn things around?I'm sorry but I don't have the answer too what is the meaning of life and why there a times when nothing seems to go right for you, however, I do believe that what we think directs our focus to achieving our thoughts, so negative thought, negative result, positive thought, positive result.