People often ask this question; but like many, it's answer does not come easy, nowhere near easy. But finding out the answer to the Purpose of our Lives is one that has great implications. From a scientific point of view, the answer lies within the cell membranes, embedded within our body's DNA. Whether we are born to be a teacher, a scientist, an artist, or a murderer; it's generally proven that it's more of a nature over nurture kind-of-thing. But from a religious point of view? Rick Warrens in his book of Purpose Driven Life tries to explain what is the purpose of the life of a Christian. But does it address all Christians? Or rather, does it address everyone? Can everyone comply with that same set of rules and regulations of the game? Knowing the purpose of our lives can lead us direct to what we are meant to do. For example, if i know i would be a physicist; why bother learning social studies, geography and literature? I'd just go straight to physics, maths and maybe a little chemistry. If i know i would be a great teacher, why bother working in a engineering company? If only life comes with a instruction manual. But then again, if each of our lives has a purpose, what's life in general's purpose? From the tiny amoeba to the huge elephants, from the microscopic cells, to the massive community of ants; what is their purpose? It seemingly seemed that ants do not have any purpose other than to eat, collect food, build nest, depending on it's type or caste. But are we, humans, comparatively similar to being like ants in another dimension? Are we humans also having seemingly no purpose in life, other than eating, working, and eventually procreating? I hope not.

Today's sermon spoke about knowing our goals and striving hard to achieve them. In Luke 19, Zacchaeus the chief tax collector climbed up a tree in order to have a glimpse of Jesus. But it ain't that simple. In the story, it was said that he tried to see Jesus, but cannot. So he RAN all the way to the front, and climbed up the tree to see Jesus. But think about it, for a short and extremely obese person like him, how easy is it to run and overtake a huge swarm of people, and then after that, climbing up a tree to a sufficient height to see Jesus. Hard. It'll be comparable, if not worse den going part of the army's Standard Obstacle Course (the 700m run to the wall, and climbing up that wall)... Plus for such a short guy, he probably has short legs; and being wealthy, he probably never has any need to work out much... So it goes to show what extent he went, just to achieve a goal that he has set for himself... And in comparison, how many of us, when seeing a big crowd, just decides to walk away, letting the chance slip by... Perhaps the person in the limelight wasn't as held high up as Jesus then, but it's comparable... But more importantly, how many of us, during the trails in life, simply decides to give up, or take the short cut out of the situation? How many of us, when met with difficulties, would rather let down our morals and do something against our will, and our moral codes? I know i would easily give up my personal goals just because i am set back by small challenges; i know i would not run ahead of the crowd, and get myself well prepared for what is to come. Rather, i would just give up when i cannot get what i want, and sit back and relax, blaming my incapability and blaming nature for having so many people around me and increasing the competition to get to the goal. So i really have to learn, to set my eyes on what i want to achieve, and to pursue it with undivided attention; because i know the reward far exceeds that it outwardly appears to be...