“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
This quote is by Albert Schweitzer, who was a theologian, organist, writer, physician, humanitarian, and philosopher. His words resonate with me because of their emphasis on caring about and wanting to help other people. These qualities are also emphasized in the teachings of Christianity and in Jungian psychological theory, which is one of the reasons I embrace both. Even though Jungian psychology isn’t considered a religious psychology, there is much correlation between its concepts and Christianity.
People who think only about their own needs and wants live a limited life. Each of us is unique and we have individual callings, and by trying to discern and act upon those callings we help others and also feel more fulfilled.
There are many ways we can help others. A very important one is by being good parents to our children, spending quality time with them, being patient, answering their questions, and showing them through our actions as well as by our words that we love them. For many of us, assisting and spending time with our elderly parents or elderly friends or relatives are ways we help others. And there are volunteer opportunities available with organizations whose missions are to assist people in various ways, just a few of which are working at a food shelf, spending time with someone in an assisted living residence or nursing home, helping children with their homework, and teaching English to immigrants.
And there are many ways to serve people other than being part of a program. A friend of mine told me that each time it snows a neighbor not only clears the sidewalk in front of her home with her snow blower, but removes snow the length of the entire block. Another friend enjoys baking and often shares what he bakes with neighbors and friends. There are many ways to show others that they are cared about, some as ongoing commitments and some as unexpected and much appreciated acts of kindness.
Without a sense of purpose, life is dull—it feels as if something is missing. We were created to use the gifts we’ve been given for the purposes they’ve been given to us. Showing compassion and being willing to help others are two of those gifts.