The Unanswered Questions

No doubt all of us are troubled at times by the unanswered questions of life. No doubt all of us are given to wondering at times about the point and purpose of many things, and even to wondering why we are here. Such thoughts may sometimes come because we are too close to the commonplace activities of each day too close really to see ourselves or to see the over-all objectives.

If we could just step aside from the rush and routine to which too many of us are too much tied, we could get a fresher perspective and picture and could come closer to answering the question that men for ages have asked: “Why are we here?”

Life is short and swiftly moving for all of us, no matter how long we live. And if there were no more purpose in it than is sometimes superficially seen, we should have cause for frustration and for some cynicism. But as a counter-remedy to these recurring feelings of frustration, let each man ask of himself as if he had never heard it questioned or considered: “Why are we here on earth?”

While we do not understand all of life’s promise and possibilities, we may take unto our hearts the certainty and assurance that we are here as part of a glorious, eternal plan and purpose. We are here because a loving Father gave us the gift of life, gave us a period of preparation for eternal opportunities. We are here to develop faith, to seek knowledge, to think with freedom, to exercise our individual agency, to seek and to accept truth. We are not here primarily for pleasure, although happiness is an important part of the plan. We are not here primarily for the wealth of this world, although the good things of the earth may rightfully be ours as we work for them.

We are here to learn and not willfully to remain in ignorance, to keep the commandments, to conquer ourselves, to learn to live together. And when we fumble and fall short, which all of us do, there is always the comforting, sustaining thought that we were sent here by a loving Father, who sent us not to fail but to succeed. He understands our hearts, our problems, our difficulties. He understands us and our needs. He expects of us a good and honest and sincere performance. He does not expect of us a presently impossible perfection but with our willingness, He will help us to return to Him with the purpose of this life completed, and with glorious, everlasting opportunities before us, with those we love. And despite recurring discouragement and sometimes weariness along the way, the hope, the promise, the certainty of things to come makes all the effort infinitely worth while.