The Adventures of Paco the Service Cat 6

Purpose, it's a heavy word isn't it.

Dictionary.com defines "purpose" as:

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.3. determination; resoluteness.4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.

Very heavy indeed.

Human beings are all about defining themselves and finding their purpose in the world. Ultimately, what is our purpose? The majority of us will be long forgotten shortly after we die. Perhaps purpose is much more present oriented than future oriented. What I mean by this is simple. I think one of my major purposes was to bring my son into the world, and so I actively strive to be the best father I can be. The goal is raise a happy and healthy son, who will someday realize his potential.  I carry out this purpose every day of my life almost with thought and certainly without pretense.

Of course another profound type of purpose is working hard to realize a goal. One of my purposes, I have always felt, is to write novels one day.  In just the act of writing this blog, I am contributing to that purpose in the moment, despite the fact that I am not yet a published author.

Paco has no ability to set long term goals, or at least not that we are aware of. Paco lives very much in the moment with hardly a thought of what is coming next. Paco reacts to whatever circumstance he is in or who he happens to meet that day.  He then quickly moves on to whatever comes next in his life.  This does not mean that animals like Paco do not have intention. Sometimes Paco gets a notion to eat, and what does he do?  He goes and eats. Sometimes Paco feels like cuddling, and so he jumps into my lap, purring and rubbing. Paco does not need to plan in advance for these things. He just feels like doing something, and does it.

Personally I think I have a lot to learn from this very "existential" attitude. I find myself very often preoccupied with what is going to happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or even next year. Instead of living in and focusing on the moment, my mind wanders to what will be happening in the next hour or so. Fortunately and unfortunately, this is a part of human nature. Long term and short term planning are one of those things that set us apart from the rest of the animal world. This ability has allowed us to achieve and create some pretty grandiose things. It has also caused us to inflict a lot of pain and destruction on ourselves and our world. If you are shocked by this and ready to demand an example, you need only consider the atomic bomb. The outcome of the search for this power was not only the destruction of two great cities and the suffering of generations of victims, but also decades of oppression and a continuing generalized fear that one day the world was one day going to explode.

If I might be so bold as to explore the idea that Paco has a purpose, this purpose could best be summed up with one very special word:  Love.  Paco loves people, even enjoys meeting new people, enjoys being held and pet, enjoys interacting with others.  He gives this love freely and eagerly, entirely without prejudice.  Because of his easy-going and adaptable nature, he will be able to extend this purpose into the lives of human beings who are suffering:  enriching the lives of elderly people who are lonely in convalescent homes, comforting people in hospice who are on their way toward death,  helping children who are scared and anxious or sad and depressed, maybe even improving the lives of autistic children who are often trapped in their own world. 

From my own experience, I know that giving is the most rewarding purpose in life.  I give of myself in my finances when I can, and I give of myself in my work with children as a therapist.  I give in the writing and artistic work that I do as well, and it is the fact of giving that make these actions worthwhile to me.  I have no doubt that Paco will be a very giving cat, ready to bestow his tremendous love on anyone who needs him.  What better purpose than that?