November 7, 2026
“And It Was Good”
Gulf Shores, Alabama, Gulf of Mexico, Joe Howell
Why do we need a purpose? Isn’t it enough simply to be present on earth, able to enjoy the beauties of life? Why would we question the validity of our existence and insist that we need a stated reason for being?
Why would we assign ourselves a grand mission or a profound reason for being alive? Could having a purpose be an ego need—something we identify with and add to our descriptions of “me”? Why do we need to be something in the world, something that substantiates our being and serves as our excuse for being here? Why do we need a “why?”
And here is another, deeper question: If a loving God created us, why must we constantly work to fulfill our purpose? Aren’t we good enough as we are?
These thought-provoking questions can be explored through the myths that helped give rise to civilization. The Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, which predates the Abrahamic religions, includes themes of a great flood and the building of a boat to survive it. Later, the Abrahamic religions shared a creation story in which God is the source of all that exists and gives creation its purpose. Within these religions, people understood there is a source and it is the reason the world was made—and the reason we have a purpose—to glorify God and care for creation. This general purpose is part of our true nature.
The modern philosopher, professor, and writer Joseph Campbell believed that the human psyche is shaped by a need to explore our true nature. He called this quest the hero’s journey. Some criticized his advice to follow our bliss, arguing that it was too self-centered and focused on pleasure.
But Campbell believed we must follow the yearning within us, even when it goes against family and societal expectations. He said that we must meet our obligations to the world responsibly while also following the path toward our truest nature—our bliss.
It seems, then, that we are wired for purpose. One purpose is to survive. Another is to glorify the God who brought us into being and to care for the world. A third, more personal purpose is to follow the path toward our true nature, the nature placed within us from the beginning.
The ego may be involved in finding and living our purpose, but we are already oriented toward fulfilling purposes on many levels. Finding our true purpose, then, is not simply a way to make more of “me.” It is an inherent human need. The ego can hijack this instinct, or we can entrust it to the domain of the soul.
Spiritual Practice and Inquiry
If you followed your bliss, would your life be different from the way it is now? Or are you already following your bliss?
Prayer
Dear God,
You created me for a reason, and You gave me my own “why.” I trust Your reasons.
Amen
