Searching high, low for answers
Mark Pavilons

We're all searching for answers.

What happens when the late night talk shows, infomercials, New York Times best sellers and new age magazines provide no definitive direction? Where do we turn and what do we think?

Most of us poor saps are just trying to get by; provide for our families; earn a decent living; purchase necessities; be good corporate citizens; think about recycling and try not to run over those poor, directionless squirrels that cross our paths on our way to buy our 6/49 tickets.

But is that enough? No, not by a long shot.

The questions of whether our purpose on this earth is being fulfilled; whether our journey here is pre-ordained, and how we impact the cosmos, figured prominently in a recent discussion with my neighbours - learned scholars all. There's me, an intelligent albeit skeptical journalist; D.L. an open-minded spiritualist who once met Mother Teresa, and A.R., a Catholic school teacher. So, here are three guys who have a somewhat "normal" grip on themselves and the world around them, trying to get the inside scoop on life, destiny, the afterlife, etc. How successful were we, even after some barley-based lubricants? Well, the jury's still out on that one.

From the stranglehold the oil and pharmaceutical industries have on us, to the polluting vehicles we drive and poisonous veggies we consume, some can conclude our Earth-bound existence is rather lackluster, mundane and ineffectual in fact. Sad, but true.

Plan A is basically to stick to what you know and follow your heart, mind and soul. That, coupled with a good education and decent career choice, should provide you with the necessities. If you're lucky to meet the right person, marry and have children, the macaroniframed picture-perfect life is pretty much set.

The three of us brought up Plan B, and subsequent plans through the alphabet, which involve referring to music from the 1970s; best sellers who offered some extra-terrestrial explanation, and some metaphysical gleanings about positive energy, the impact of electromagnetic power on the universe, etc. Nobody dared mention the Magic 8 Ball.

In the end, we were no closer to a solution or answer than most armchair critics who have to face the summer with TV reruns and new reality shows.

But aren't most of us these days better armed, more intelligent, well read and all-knowing? Don't we have God and all the powers that be on our side?

Mere mortals cannot possibly be so well attuned, so connected, to come up with the meaning of life, the universe and everything, at least not in one Sunday afternoon in Bolton.

So there we were, perched on an asphalt surface, soaking up the harmful UV rays, coming up with theories, expanding on universal constants, digging deep within our souls for the clues, the rationale, to put everything into perspective.

And here's what we came up with:

We are all part of something bigger. Regardless of what religious belief you follow, that seems to be the common thread, from Jesus to Mohammed to Moses. Our goal is all the same - to add to the whole, to learn, advance and forward the human condition.

Sounds great. I try to follow this on a daily basis - to give rather than take; to add to, not diminish. But am I in the minority? Are my fellow human beings more apt to follow selfish desires, greed and the pursuit of the all-evil dollar?

Once we've served our time on earth, that knowledge continues and is added to the huge, cosmic mix. This magical recipe goes way beyond anything we could ever imagine (at least in this existence). Yes, my trio deduced, we retain all that we've learned during our time here on earth and that knowledge is essential to the evolution of humankind.

Wow. All that in a matter of minutes! Okay the beer helped.

But, I asked, does the essence of who we were and the love we experienced, go with us in our next form? My neighbours both responded with a definite "yes." Faith, or wishful thinking?

Almost every organized religion (and there are more than 16 major religions with many variants) has something to say about everlasting life. Interestingly, eternal life was only mentioned once in the Old Testament, but frequently in the New Testament.

"... whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"Enoch walked with God ..."

"And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die ..."

"... but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."

Organized religion aside, perhaps the draw of the metaphysical realm pertains to the very questions we raised. There's much more to the human spirit and soul than meets the eye. In fact, it's all one big magical mystery tour.

Are there spirits, ghosts, apparitions, from another dimension? Are they friends or foes? Do we know some of them? Are we keenly connected to Mother Earth in all aspects? Why is the percentage of water in our bodies roughly the same as that of our planet? Why are we affected by tides and our moon? Why are we here?

Very good questions, all.

Soul-searching is a healthy pastime. The bottom line is it makes sense to place faith in a higher power because the majority of mouth-breathers on this planet aren't very omnipotent.