The Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life? And will I discover it before I leave this planet? How many people more intelligent than I have been down this path before me? The meaning of life: the world’s greatest unsolved mystery.

And yet some claim to have figured it out. For example, I have heard that the meaning of life lies in procreation and the continuation of the species. But how mundane and uninspiring is that? Is that all there is? I have also heard that the meaning of life can be found by singing Hosannas to Jesus. But that doesn’t make any sense to me either.

Indeed, I have struggled with religion. Yes I believe that “God” exists in some kind of cosmic sense. What I do not accept is an invisible, bearded man in the sky who spoke only to the ancients, who then authored holy and infallible books while simultaneously believing that the world was flat. I do not believe that the world is 6,000 years old. I do not believe that man coexisted with dinosaurs. I believe that it is dangerous to even entertain such nonsense.

What I do believe is that the “theory” of evolution is beyond challenge. Yes, the verdict is now in. Even at life’s tiniest level, bacteria evolve from day to day, placing mankind in a constant struggle to create antibiotics that will keep us one step ahead of disaster.

On the other hand, I do have an instinctive sense that “God” provides divine inspiration. Perhaps mankind’s most moving musical piece is the Ninth Symphony, but it was written by Ludwig Von Beethoven when he was totally deaf. Indeed, anything that we call art seems to have its roots buried in some kind of divine plane.

Perhaps the meaning of life cannot be stated in words. Perhaps the meaning of life must simply be felt in order to be experienced. Perhaps it is revealed in great books that challenge the order of things. Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath. Or in great films: Cinema Paradiso, 2001 A Space Odyssey.

But whenever I feel that I am coming close to grasping the meaning of life, it somehow slips away. Perhaps to contemplate the meaning of life, we have to release our minds to a higher, esoteric level and abandon the rules of life that have been ingrained in us since childhood. The ways of the world have been taught to us since we emerged from the womb. But without challenge, they may also mark the prison from which we have to escape.

For example, the ancients thought that the earth was the center of the universe. And why not? And from our position on the ground, it certainly looks that way - except for the seemingly erratic movement of what we now know to be planets. But in the middle ages, planets were just pesky little stars that just wouldn’t stay put. Of course such movement is easily explained by challenging the order of things; that the earth is just another planet revolving around the sun. But once upon a time, that was not something you would want to say in public.

For the past century or so, we have viewed religion and science as being at odds with on another. And guess what? They are. The creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden now seems much less plausible than the existence of genetic blueprints and DNA. But truth has its own beauty, and so in the end, I suspect it will be scientists rather than theologians who will unlock the mystery of “God.” Someday we may even unlock the mystery of aging and conquer death itself. But I am sixty years old and such a discovery is unlikely to happen before I need it.

No, I will die and presumably meet my maker. Since I’ve lived a fairly good life, I expect to obtain admission to this place called heaven. And once that happens, I have a plan. I’m going to hang around the Pearly Gates and acquire a feel for the lay of the land. Sooner or later St. Peter is going to need to take a break. When that happens, I’m going to swing the gates wide open.

Good news everybody. You’re all getting in.

DINER

There is a certain kind of diner that keeps appearing in the movies.

The layout of the diner is always the same. The diner is long and narrow. It is always on a commercial street and the length of the diner runs parallel with the street. It is invariably marked by a bright, neon sign. In the movies, it is usually raining when a customer enters the diner.

The insider of the diner is separated by an aisle. On one side of the aisle are booths. The booths extend the entire length of the diner and they face the windows. Everybody sitting at a booth has a clear view of the street outside. On the other side of the aisle is a counter. The counter also runs the entire length of the diner. Customers who are flying solo sit on stools and are served by a uniformed waitress on the opposite side of the counter. In the movies, she is always pouring coffee. She also writes the customer's order down on a tablet. She tears the top page off the tablet and puts it on a carousel, where a cook grabs it and fills the order. Later this very same piece of paper serves as a bill or check. Nobody needs a computer in these places and one senses that the IRS doesn't care much about the money coming in or going out. The food is probably good and maybe the IRS agents eat there. They don't want to shut it down.

I am aware of no diners of this type in the Chicagoland area.