Does it Really Matter? A look at origins via Hawkings, Hitchings, & Lennon.

Does understanding the purpose and meaning in life really matter? Do you ever lose sleep or toss and turn at night pondering what happens when you die or more importantly will my life make a difference and count? We live in a time where being politically correct is often more important than pursuing the truth! I also know from a business or life perspective we can be more concerned about what works, that’s called being pragmatic, then being honest about not understanding the basics about life and where we get the answers or whether there are any answers.

There is a raging battle taking place in our society that you have to choose as to whether you opt out and pretend it doesn’t matter as long as you live your life and don’t bother me I don’t mind what you do. (This is called relativism.) So does it matter whether I was raised in a moral and ethical context in my family? Is it really possible to raise your kids in a neutral environment where you pretend that you start out with a blank slate type of mind and watch a two year old distinguish fact from fiction or the truth from a lie?

One of the more popular scientists of our day is Stephen Hawkings who has written in his ‘Brief History of Time’ his own cosmology and understanding of life. My point isn’t to say Hawkings doesn’t know what he’s talking about but to encourage everyone to be literate and read to see how one comes to a conclusion about whether there is purpose and meaning in life or whether everything is determined by chaos. Just as Christopher Hitchings, who is deceased and now better understands about life and death, wrote about his views in his book, ‘God isn’t Great and Religion Poisons Everything’.  His point, which also hits most people’s hot buttons, is that religion has never contributed anything positive to society.  He is part of a larger, newer and much nicer than him Atheist Club that wants to make being a non-believer more acceptable to the mass populace.

I can also remember as a youth growing up in the 60’s watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. Most were amazed to see their popularity grow to such an extent that they made the claim that they were more popular then Jesus Christ. It was John Lennon who later claimed that God was actually dead.  It’s easy for me to joke and say it’s now clearly the case that Mr. Lennon is dead and the question as to whether God is alive is still up for grabs.  So is it possible to gain meaning in life from a scientist, atheist, musician, Christian, Jew, Muslim or __________?

So yes Hawkings talks about origins, the big bang, the pursuit of the unifying equation and Hitchings instead just bashes all religious belief systems and truly believed that the glass was always half empty.  Hitching’s life unfortunately finished to his losing his battle with cancer.  Hawkings has battled ALS the majority of his life and still continues to astonish everyone with his scientific ponderings while he has gone through two marriages. So what really matters in the end?

I spent the last thirty minutes on the phone with a mom/grandma that is concerned with her teenage son and daughter. She understands, regardless of Hawking’s findings or Hitching’s cynicism, that her son growing up as a Black teen becomes a target because of his size and color to be attacked by a gang member or a White police officer. She wants the best for her kids and grandkids so they can understand the purpose and meaning of life in a practical fashion.  So does understanding life’s mystery require a PhD in Physics, Philosophy, Theology or being a garage band musician?

I spent the last week in Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes taking in the beauty of gigantic mountains, domes, waterfalls, a variety of trees and watching the antics of little chipmunks.  I was asked by one of the younger hikers whether you could see the Milky Way at night. I could have responded in a philosophical fashion and explained that the light that one sees is actually not the real image but a reflection of light that has taken light years to arrive. Yet, I chose to be real and simple and said YES you will thoroughly enjoy seeing it!  He was on his way with his parents to campout on Sunrise point before he ascended to Cloud’s Rest at 10,000 feet.

Yes I believe it does matter where I came from and where I’m going in the end! I’m appreciative to Dr. Hawkings, Mr. Hitchings and the Beatles for helping me in my pursuit of understanding life! My suggestion is to read, ask questions and be like the little kid on the hike and look for the Milky Way!