Purpose

(from Pocket Philosophy for End Times – A Lexicon of Dystopia)

The obsession with leaving some kind of impact on the Earth, or on others, before we die. The denial of the terrifying fear that we may just be a random life form that comes, then goes, without a purpose. A life form, like all other life forms, that doesn’t and shouldn’t need to leave a mark in order to feel complete. That realises that it is already a mark in itself, simply by existing. It is a miracle on its own, without having to do anything additional. In our egotistical search for purpose, we have created civilisations that destroy simply for the purpose of re-creating, so that we can claim to be the owners of this world and its creations. In our obsession to own outright, rather that humbly and gratefully accept and share the gifts and miracles given to us for free, we panicked: insecurely snatching them like thieves, stashing them away, then destroying them and using them as raw materials for our frankenstein creations. Purpose is a trap. Because it is never fulfilled. It becomes greed, it becomes destruction. Our purpose is to simply be mirrors that reflect the wonders of this planet.

George is an author, researcher, podcaster, chemist, molecular biologist and food scientist. You can follow him on Twitter @99blackbaloons , listen to his Spotify podcast George reads George, join his mailing list, or enjoy his books