4 ms·

Cal's book is great - but for me, my gut cynical reaction was to wonder if even a successful 'mission' wasn't a false sand-castle that disappears when I die. T

Cal's book is great - but for me, my gut cynical reaction was to wonder if even a successful 'mission' wasn't a false sand-castle that disappears when I die. Two books make note of this: Ecclesiastes would call a mission mere striving after wind and Becker's Denial of Death that would call mission a an immortality project doomed to irrelevance. As others here have noted - Ecclesiastes would agree that enjoying the immediate pleasures of food, work, mirth while in the company of friends and family is a gift. But Cal is also correct, that without a mission you wander aimlessly. That's what makes it hard - I know it doesn't matter and yet it does matter greatly to those around me who need me to be a strong, good, and competent person. My only bit of small advice: perhaps a mission something that gives you the ability and desire to help other people could give you a direction that has enough meaning to make it worthwhile.

pzone 9y ago
The idea of your life's accomplishments resounding loudly after you die seems like an overly lofty expectation. Kind of proud. What are you imagining for yourself? Invent something miraculous? Become President? It's unrealistic. You can still make the world around you a better place and make your life worthwhile for the greater good. Work hard and do your job well. Be a good friend to others, and a good partner. Have children and raise them well. Donate to the less fortunate and improve your community. They aren't going to erect monuments to you for that, but if you do those things, which are certainly in your power, you will be seen as a bright light and example to others in your circle, and you will make the world a better place.
dwaltrip 9y ago
> wonder if even a successful 'mission' wasn't a false sand-castle that disappears when I die. Our lives today are the accumulation of billions of sand-castles built by others before us. It may be very hard to discern how one's life will ripple out through time in the vast future, but many small ripples undeniably combine together into something much larger.

pzone 9y ago

The idea of your life's accomplishments resounding loudly after you die seems like an overly lofty expectation. Kind of proud. What are you imagining for yourself? Invent something miraculous? Become President? It's unrealistic. You can still make the world around you a better place and make your life worthwhile for the greater good. Work hard and do your job well. Be a good friend to others, and a good partner. Have children and raise them well. Donate to the less fortunate and improve your community. They aren't going to erect monuments to you for that, but if you do those things, which are certainly in your power, you will be seen as a bright light and example to others in your circle, and you will make the world a better place.

dwaltrip 9y ago

> wonder if even a successful 'mission' wasn't a false sand-castle that disappears when I die. Our lives today are the accumulation of billions of sand-castles built by others before us. It may be very hard to discern how one's life will ripple out through time in the vast future, but many small ripples undeniably combine together into something much larger.