Musings of a Wanderer

Just a little something I wrote out a couple years ago in one of my more thoughtful moods.

Life. Such a small word for such an intriguing topic. Everyone knows what it is, but no one can explain it. The reason for living, the overall goal of existence on this plane… No one can give a straight answer. For some it is to live for a god. For others it may to become as rich as possible. Still others are all about helping others. The best answer I can provide is this.To the blind it is to see.To the mute it is to speak.To the paralyzed it is to walk.The poor seek wealth.The rich search for happiness.Every man has his own goals.We all have a purpose in life, but the one thing common to us all is a search for the same thing: Contentment. On the other hand, maybe we have no real purpose here. We could just be a SimCity Game for some Higher Being. Something to occupy the never ending time for the Powers That Be.Then that leads us to another topic: Religion. What is it? Is there a “true religion”? Why does it exist? It seems to me that we arrive at the same place as the last question. To each his own. Religion is a path many take to obtain that contentment in life. Religion itself may not fulfill that desire, but it provides a pathway to get there. So, therefore religion isn’t necessary for life. It is an ‘extra’ that many can and do live without.Yet there is a difference between religion and a way of life. In every religion there are a few kinds of people. First you have the ones that completely and wholeheartedly follow their religion. For them it is a way of life. Then you have those that go to church every Sunday and that is the end of their religiousness. For them it is just a religion. There are a few other kinds of people in relation to religion. Going back to our analogy of a path, some people just walk down the edge of the path. Sometimes on, other times off. Then there are those that cut their own way through life, creating their own path. Their path may cross another at times while it may be so far off in the woods no one has a clue what’s going on. Last and generally the smallest group, is those that don’t follow any path yet they don’t cut out a path of their own. They just wander.I am a wanderer. Wanderers are not lost, nor do they attempt to follow the path of those that came before them. They move around observing everyone and taking a little from all. Wanderers are not looking for people to follow them. If someone does, what’s it to them? Just because someone chose to follow doesn’t mean they have to lead. If they choose to lead they cease to be a wanderer. Now they are cutting out their path. Let me clarify for a second. A wanderer does not create a path. Creating a path means you expect someone to follow it after you. Wanderers do not expect or necessarily want to be followed. The goals of the wanderer mirror those of anyone else. They still seek inner contentment. They just have a different way of finding it. A wanderer lives his life for himself.Now what is the point of following a religion or way of life because your parents did? That is why you see so many people ditch their parents’ religion when they become of age. Everyone needs a way of life that works for them not a way of life forced on them because mom and dad did it. This is another point for my Contentment theory. If something is forced on you how long do you think you are going to hold on to it? Long enough to please those that forced it on you. After that you are going to leave it behind and find something to replace it.

Reviews

[Fire Tulip]

Couldn't have said it better myself.