Life's True Purpose

The sky was painted with the colors of the sunset and the evening breeze began to gently blow as Papa and I sat in companionable silence. His wife of sixty four years had died earlier that week. His voice was tender and full of emotion when he finally spoke. We talked that night about the meaning of life.

Papa was ninety one years old, yet, when he was a young child, even before he was able to read, his mother taught him the first catechism question and he never forgot it. So that night I gently asked him, "Papa, what is the chief end of man?" Without hesitation he responded, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

In some ways the answer seemed simple, but the weight of its meaning had brought stability to all he had encountered in his ninety one years. Papa had seen God's glory as he gazed into the heavens seeking a sign that a drought would be broken by the coming of rain. As a farmer he had entered into the joy of creation when watching the birth of a calf. He understood too that, though he could put the seed into the ground, only God could make it grow.

That night we sat together watching the sunset and talking about the meaning of life. Papa put his gnarled hand down to gently stroke the head of his faithful dog. We spoke of heaven and, although there was deep sorrow, there was also joy. This was a man who had walked humbly and quietly with his Savior, glorifying and enjoying Him in both the big and the small things of life.

It was silent for a few minutes and then I turned to Papa and said. "You know, if God calls you home you can go." He seemed startled for a moment and said, "Sarah, do you know what you are saying?" I spoke with quiet conviction. "Papa, when you were a little boy your mother taught you that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I think you've done that." All of his life he had sought to glorify God. The next morning he was welcomed into the joy of His presence.

Where Papa and I sat that last night of his life there is a marble bench given in honor of Papa and Ma Belle. Sometimes at twilight I sit there and pray that my children will remember the lesson their grandfather learned from his mother--that the true purpose of life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.