You Have Purpose

Some people are not sure what to do with their lives. They can't figure out their purpose, or if they even have one. On the other hand, some people believe they have a path to greatness ahead of them. There are folks who want nothing more than a simple, pleasant life. The modern world makes it difficult to figure things out. The trick is to remember that you really do have a purpose.

Our religion tells us that the mingling of Fire and Ice (chaos and order) is the origin of our world and the others. We read about the Gods fighting the agents of Ice and Fire (giants) as those enemies make incursions into our worlds. Odin and the other Gods know that reality only exists as a dynamic balance between Fire and Ice, and if either of those sides ever gains dominance, our reality will cease to exist. That's the war Odin constantly fights.

To help with that war, sentient beings exist in the various worlds. The elves have their place, as do the dwarves. The Middle World has humans. In each case, those beings are made of the material of that world and are tuned into it. They have a stake in what happens in that world in particular, though all the worlds are connected.

Odin, Vili, and Ve created humans from two trees, an Ash (Aska) and an Elm (Embla). Odin gave those trees blood, breath, and our various life-force parts (basically a soul, though our religion has a multi-part soul). Vili gave the trees intelligence, comprehension, and the ability to move on their own. Ve gave them their senses (sight, hearing, etc.) as well as names, clothing, and the human form. Why would these three Gods take the time to shape humans from the trees?

Humans are made to be the allies of the Gods here in the Middle World. That is your purpose; to be that ally. You exist to help maintain that dynamic balance. You must fight against the forces of extreme chaos and extreme order, under which none of us can survive. How are you supposed to do that?

First, try to be as healthy as you can. Not everyone is blessed with great health, but the effort is worth it. Next, try to be as honest as you can at all times, though you can still be tactful. Though deception is sometimes necessary, it will always carry a cost, leaving a stain on your energies. Try to help people when you can, but acknowledge your limitations and the fact that not everyone can or will be helped. Try to keep a healthy environment, being conscious of your impact on nature around you.

Those are good general actions, but some people want to do something more impactful. Maybe you want to be a hero or a notable leader. Great, try joining the military, police force, or fire department, or maybe running for political office. Perhaps being a teacher helping kids grow into responsible adults is the kind of impact you want to have. There are other public service jobs and volunteer positions available. Honestly, a competent, friendly sales clerk or food service worker can make the day better for a lot of people, and that makes things better too.

Take time to meditate on your purpose. What are you doing to make things better for yourself and others? Is there something more that you want to do? Are you causing harm that you do not need to cause, and can you change so that it ends? Whatever you do, know that the Gods have you in this world for a reason. You are Their ally and your job is making things more wholesome in this world. Every day, say, "I am an ally of the Gods!"