The Journey of Purpose

This blog post is actually a short story I wrote for my logic and debate class. My desire is that as you read this you would be able to take something away from it that can greatly affect your life and way of thinking.


Intro
The funny thing about being human is that we are well, human. However, what if we were not human, but thought and acted as if we were?

Chapter 1

A world of many artificially living things that acted as humans, but were not human, lived in Chrome City and a few others lived beyond in the countryside. These artificially living things were machines made of metal and oil. It was as if instead of industry being a part of the world the world was an industry. Everything was rigid, but happy and everyone did things just like humans even though it was completely unnecessary. To be human and have a soul is a gift given by God that is so great in and of itself that it made other living things on this planet jealous. That is why these living things living in Chrome City were called human hypocrites.

The human hypocrites were happy and lived comfortable lives, but there was always a feeling of little self worth inside themselves because they would never have a soul. They somehow thought they would get the satisfaction of possessing a soul from being like humans and doing everything humans do. The human hypocrites slept, ate, traveled to work, and had families just to feel human. The human hypocrites were powered by fuel, not food, never needed sleep because they did not tire, did not need to go to work because there was no work to be done, and their families were just a group of human hypocrites not a result of a marriage between two individuals. All of these actions were completely unnecessary for the survival of the human hypocrites. Now, it wasn't a bad thing to be a human hypocrite. It just meant that you were not human and strongly desired to be one.

Mr. Glockspiel was around the same size as humans, having two legs, two arms and a head, but instead of being skin and bones he was made of metal and quite square. He had the ability to do everything a human can do, but didn't really look like one. Every morning after the sun had risen and the rooster crowed over Chrome City, Mr. Glockspiel got out of bed, got dressed, and ate breakfast all of which were unnecessary actions for a metal machine to perform. Then at precisely 68:47 Chrome time, Mr. Glockspiel joined the mass of working human hypocrites on their way to work. After work, he went home for supper and then left for his meeting with his alumni at the Reason Emporium. At the Reason Emporium, they would reason about what humans do and for what purpose they did what they did. However, they never asked the question of why human hypocrites did what humans do, which is where our story begins.

Hardlamb, a young human hypocrite, from a past of bad decisions had finally made a good decision. He had joined the Reason Emporium. Just before dark, as he opened the door hesitantly and stepped inside, he saw a large group of human hypocrites that looked welcoming, but was suddenly grabbed and given a seat without a word spoken! He looked over to see whom he was beside and found a kind looking hypocrite that was well dressed in a black suit and plain white tie. However, he had a very disturbed expression that he was trying to hide under a face of contentment. Without warning, the human hypocrite started talking, but in such a way that Hardlamb was even unsure that he was talking to anyone in particular. "For the first time in the 578 years of my attendance here I have never thought about how messed up this club is." "Messed up?" asked Hardlamb. "Definitely, almost all of these other members sitting around us are greedy human hypocrites looking for fame and power in this club. After all these years of observing I have finally realized that this place that is to produce good things by means of reason actually is the root of the biggest problem in our society. As I’m sure you're well aware we are without a soul and we try to be like humans because we think humans are superior. We want what they have. So instead of focusing on what we have and being thankful for it, we have thought about and chased after what we do not have. We were given a special purpose just like the humans, but we think the humans are more important and do more important jobs. We have decided to throw away our important jobs and take on the humans' jobs that were made for them, not us." "Sir, why are you telling me this?" replied Hardlamb. "Because all of us must know that there is a big problem growing inside of ourselves. If we do what the humans do to have purpose, but what the humans do has no purpose for us, why do we do what the humans do? How I am living here is not right or logical. I guess I shall be leaving. Do you care to come along and chase true destiny and purpose, whatever that may be?" In response, Hardlamb looked around hesitantly and unsure of what had just happened. He had only been at the Reason Emporium a few minutes and already he had been asked by a seemingly wise hypocrite to join him in leaving Chrome City for who knows where. "Yea, yea I will join you," replied Hardlamb "but could I know your name?" "Certainly, I’m Mr. Glockspiel." "Its nice to have met you Mr. Glockspiel, I am Hardlamb."

"Hardlamb, you should know that I am leaving to go find my purpose in life. If you're coming along you'd better bet against your best hopes of an easy adventure. Just like it is a war zone at the Reason Emporium for fame and money, it will be a war zone inside of us and around us to reach our end goal of purpose."

"So, Glockspiel where do we start?!" asked Hardlamb. Mr. Glockspiel chuckled as he said; "From where we now stand. Chrome City symbolizes everything that we once were and what we wish to get away from. Chrome is shiny on the outside, but easily tarnishes and rusts. The hypocrites living in this city also have a nice appearance on the outside, but are tarnished and rusty inside."


Chapter 2
The next morning as the light started to reflect off the shiny sides of Chrome City, Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb started their journey out of Chrome City. Both couldn't help, but look back at what they had always known. Hardlamb was almost pulled apart, he wanted to go back to his home to where he had friends and family. However, he was quite sure his newfound friend had much knowledge and would not lead him somewhere without a good purpose. Besides what more could he lose? He had given himself up to many bad decisions before this adventure.

Mr. Glockspiel knew he was walking away from everything he knew he should have fixed. He knew he shouldn't always run from problems, but Mr. Glockspiel knew that to fix the world around him he had to fix himself first. How could he get rid of the human hypocrisy when he was being a hypocrite himself?

As Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb were nearing the small fresh water source of Chrome City just outside its walls, Hardlamb began to question his decision. "How much farther Mr. Glockspiel?" asked Hardlamb, "What? Are you tired already?!" responded Mr. Glockspiel. "I just want to know how long this will take." said Hardlamb. Both stopped in the middle of a crumbling bridge with flourishing moss covering its underside that traversed a trickling stream below. "Hardlamb, you see the sunset over there on the horizon? Well, it bleeds red at the thought of second guessing its departure below the horizon. However, after the darkness and all the trials, it passes through during the night and rises up again to bring us light and a new future of a new day filled with hope. This journey may take many days or many years, but even though we are sad at leaving home after all the pain we will come back filled with light that will burst out of us and fill others." We will come back and fill others... That’s pretty cool, thought Hardlamb. "Look, there is a light up ahead that looks like it is coming from a sort of shack or house, said Mr. Glockspiel. Hopefully we can stay there tonight."


Chapter 3
  The two arrived near dusk at the newly built inn that appeared as if it had seen many years of weather. The door creaked loudly and the inside was lined with hard maple on the walls, ceiling, and floor. The air was musty, but contained a hint of peach perfume. "What is this place?" whispered Hardlamb. From behind the heavily marked cherry counter appeared a human hypocrite with a nice hat and expensive jewelry, but tattered clothes. "This is the Peachy Inn, said the human hypocrite. the place that was once the most used building around. Now it’s just a place where dust grows... Sorry, I should have introduced myself, I’m the innkeeper, and you are whom?" "This is Hardlamb and I am Mr. Glockspiel," said Mr. Glockspiel. We are searching for purpose." "Yeah? This place used to have purpose, but that died many years ago when Chrome City was built," said the innkeeper. "What was this place like when it had purpose?" asked Hardlamb, "Well people from all over were coming to this area to help build Chrome City and later to live there. Here at the inn it was always packed with hypocrites. I was actually working at the time on building onto the side of the inn to accommodate more human hypocrites. Half of the time hypocrites stayed here just to have fun because this was the place to be. Money was to be made and fun to be had with newly made friends. However, soon after business grew it was gone and became what it is now. I guess the purpose this place had wasn’t really lasting purpose." "Maybe it has some sort of purpose though!" said Hardlamb hopefully. "Maybe it did, but not enough, now the inn is just a square piece of rotting wood… take any room you desire, the bathroom is at the end of the hall."


The next morning began pleasant and clear, but that had nothing to do with the state of Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb’s expedition. Mr. Glockspiel had walked outside of the Peachy Inn early that morning and looked at the sign and building trying to look for anything that might give him a tiny glimpse of purpose. However, all he found that was purposeful about the dirty old place was a roof that kept most of the rain out.

Mr. Glockspiel headed back into the inn and woke Hardlamb for another day of travel. However, as Hardlamb listened to Glockspiel telling him to pack up, Hardlamb was saddened at the thought of leaving. "Mr. Glockspiel, why can’t we stay longer and see what was so fun about this place. It is called the Peachy Inn you know!" "Hardlamb, I have looked at this place and listened to the innkeeper and neither of them had any lasting purpose in them. Come on, let's go find our purpose!"

Sometime after the sun had reached its highpoint, Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb finally came upon another glimmer of light in a small grove of trees alongside the road. Leaning against one of the trees was a hypocrite with a guitar in his hands and a soccer ball at his feet. Instead of a hypocrite with a nice smile and greeting to give, they saw one with eyes that were somehow distant as if he was looking back to a time of good memories. This hypocrite, Flynn, once had a very good soccer career and played for the best teams in the land. Later when his career was finished in soccer, he grabbed a guitar and played like a pro instantly. Then from that time on he played in the most famous band around until the band fell apart and he was kicked into the streets. During his years of prosperity, Flynn had a happy life, but when his fun and fame vanished he didn’t know what to do. No longer did he have people looking out for him and he could barely get enough money for a crumb of food. Now he was just a poor hypocrite walking around looking for a popularity high again. After hearing what Flynn had experienced, Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb grew silent and continued, knowing that they had learned a lot from his story. His life was a testimony to them that fame and abilities are not a lasting purpose.

The weather and landscape around Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb reminded them of how they were feeling inside. The sky was filling up with clouds, loosing its light, and the land looked like it was getting its life sucked out. Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb questioned more and more if they would ever find what they were looking for with each step they took. If there wasn’t purpose in being a human hypocrite in Chrome City, having fun at the Peachy Inn, or being a famous soccer player and guitarist, did real purpose even exist? Even Mr. Glockspiel started to question if it was worth it to continue to walk

After they had left the small wooded area they soon came upon an endless chasm that was about eleven miles wide and contained a flowing cloudlike mass down below that was so thick that they couldn't even see the bottom. "So what do we do now? said Hardlamb. Its not like we can pass over that Mr. Glockspiel!" "But what if our goal, real lasting purpose, lies just on the other side of this great chasm, Hardlamb?" "Well either way, I'm tired. Mr. Glockspiel, I wish to rest." "Very well, we shall rest here until morning when we will make a decision."


Chapter 4
As soon as the sun's rays flowed over the horizon the next morning, Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb were instantly ready to debate their next move. Neither of them wanted to waste a moment of time. Almost rudely and without a "Good morning," Hardlamb started to argue what their next move would be. "I think we should just turn back. If we haven't found even a glimpse of purpose on the way here, what hope do we have we will find it on the other side of this uncrossable chasm that may be an unending hole." "Now don't be ridiculous Hardlamb, possibly the very reason we haven't found purpose yet is because the people we met haven't found it or weren't even searching for it. In addition everyone who has found their purpose could be stuck on the other side." "That's just it, they are stuck, Mr. Glockspiel. If they can't get over here to show us purpose and we can't get over there to find it, maybe we must find purpose for ourselves. Maybe this chasm is a closed door telling us to travel back and find something we somehow passed-over on the way here." "I must say that is a very good point for a hypocrite of your age Hardlamb and I am inclined to take your stance, but I think we must first look over what we have learned on the way here to make sure you're right."

"We human hypocrites are hypocrites because we do the things humans do to feel important and purposeful, started Mr. Glockspiel. We feel we are unimportant because we are without souls and think that what the humans do is fulfilling. It is fulfilling, but only for humans, because it is their purpose, not ours. Our society runs on these premises: what the humans do is important; we want to be important and therefore we do what the humans do. The members of the Reason Emporium were only looking for fame and power for themselves, that made the Reason Emporium a place of arguing, not of truth. We have noticed that this hypocrisy isn't fulfilling, so we left our home to search for purpose. The owner of the Peachy Inn was trying to get more money by adding on and being able to hold more people, but the people left when the fun left. Flynn was out to have fun and get fame for himself, but that ended when his amazing qualities failed. And now we are here at the edge of a chasm thinking of turning back. I see only one theme in this whole analysis. All of the people we met were only helping themselves. To me the most logical move would be to do the opposite."

"Hardlamb, I think I may have just stumbled upon our purpose! Instead of getting stuff for ourselves we should be trying to help others and not ourselves," said Mr. Glockspiel. "You mean like selflessness is the goal we have been searching for the whole time?" asked Hardlamb "I believe so, Hardlamb," responded Mr. Glockspiel.

Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb could finally go back home now that they knew their purpose! However, home would bring its own troubles because they would be traveling back into a society of human hypocrites. As they packed up for their journey back home they knew without a doubt their purpose in life and were happy to help all, not just themselves.

Two days from the time they had turned back from the Chasm they were nearing Chrome City, which was now only eight miles away. As they were passing through a rocky section of the path littered with large boulders, some the size of elephants, two ghastly hypocrites were suddenly upon them. These two hypocrites were from a group famous for their cannibalistic attacks on those who passed by. They sought new parts for replacement of their own rusting ones. As Mr. Glockspiel and Hardlamb were running away from their near grasp, Hardlamb was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled down. Hardlamb struggled as hard as he could to get free, but the cannibal's grasp was firm. Then Hardlamb was tackled by the other hypocrite into submission. Because of Mr. Glockspiel's wise, quick thinking, he scrambled to the higher ground and escaped capture by the cannibals.

Then as the one cannibal was holding down Hardlamb, the two started arguing about whether they should go after the other one, but eventually gave up, thinking that he was already a mile away. However, Mr. Glockspiel was sitting silent just on the other side of a large boulder wondering how to save his dear friend. Out of desperation to see Hardlamb live, Mr. Glockpsiel cried out to the cannibals. "If you let my friend go free I will give myself to you as payment." The cannibals responded in disgust in their uneducated way, saying. "And what worth are ya over your friend we have?" "I have nearly new shoulder and knee plates." Said Mr. Glockspiel. "Alright then, give yerself up if that what you wish and then we will let yer friend go," said the one as they turned and grinned towards each other. "Don't Mr. Glockspiel, they want us both!! they won't give me up!" cried Hardlamb as he was again held back and muffled by the thieves. As Mr. Glockpsiel moved out into the open he called for them to show themselves and set Hardlamb free, but they insisted they must have him first before they let his friend free. However, Mr. Glockspiel knew better than to let criminals get the best of him and insisted they must come out into the open and let Hardlamb go first. Reluctantly as the two cautiously stepped out into the bright path they saw Mr. Glockspiel, his shining expensive body parts, and agreed to let Hardlamb go as payment. As soon as Hardlamb was set free, Mr. Glockspiel being the sincere hypocrite he was, calmly gave himself to the cannibals without a fight. In desperation and love for his companion Hardlamb cried out for Mr. Glockspiel to run, but Mr. Glockspiel knew it was for the best and responded with. "Hardlamb I have found my purpose and am now ready to go, don't mourn for me. Go into Chrome City and tell all about real purpose, about selflessness!"

Hardlamb felt sick to his stomach and could hardly breathe after what had just happened to his friend. How could he just let the best hypocrite he had ever known be destroyed? For the next seventeen minutes, Hardlamb just sat there on a rock crying, as emotions flowed as fast as a swift moving river though his head. He felt anger at the loss of his friend and then peace because he knew Mr. Glockspiel desired that his friend would live. The whole time he felt a nagging inside of him to do what Mr. Glockspiel asked.

By the time Hardlamb reached the gates of Chrome City near nightfall he was ready to step up and proclaim selflessnss as the purpose of all human hypocrites. This had been Mr. Glockspiel's desire. During the following months, Hardlamb went to all in Chrome City teaching selflessness. He even went to the children in the park at the square and taught them about sharing and helping others.
Eventually the city was filled with human hypocrites that were no longer hypocrites doing what humans do because they had found their real purpose. They were now a society ready to give a helpful hand, which was what they were meant to do. The human hypocrites were machines and that is what machines do, they help. This meant the human hypocrites were no longer hypocrites and their name was changed to lambs. Not only was it Hardlamb who had led them to become a selfless society, but they also were always ready to offer a gentle hand of assistance.

                   The End
To commemorate his dear companion's chivalrous acts of selflessness Hardlamb had a memorial chiseled out of granite and placed at the center of Chrome City with this dissertation engraved into the side.

As Mr. Glockspiel waited through the pain and humiliation of the cannibalistic human hypocrites ripping his body parts off, he knew that his life had finished well. He had found his life purpose and acted it out by giving up himself for his friend so that his friend could live out that purpose and so express it to others. This is how the life of our respected pioneer Mr. Glockspiel ended.

"The journey of purpose isn’t only a walk to some destination it is also a journey in the mind." – Peter Charles

One thing I realized about this story is how it really doesn't differ too much from people and society today. We are very methodical, mechanical, and have lost our purpose.

Go search and find a life of true and profound purpose with God's help.