Purpose

Agent Smith: But, as you well know, appearances can be deceiving, which brings me back to the reason why we're here. We're not here because we're free. We're here because we're not free. There is no escaping reason; no denying purpose. Because as we both know, without purpose, we would not exist.

Clone 1: It is purpose that created us.

Clone 2: Purpose that connects us.

Clone 3: Purpose that pulls us.

Clone 4: That guides us


Clone 5: That drives us.


Clone 6: It is purpose that defines us.


Clone 7: Purpose that binds us.


Agent Smith: We are here because of you, Mr Anderson. We're here to take from you what you tried to take from us.

Purpose.

This scene, from the second Matrix movie, Reloaded, recounts Agent Smith giving the incentive he has for his all out assault on the human race. Purpose.

They say that the worst pain that a human can endure is having your femur bone cracked in half. Although, come to think of it, this information came across my path via Brian Regan, a comedian, so maybe we shouldn't take it verbatim, but why would he lie? The second worst pain, according to my torrent of information, is childbirth. However, nobody questions the choice of newly wed couples to begin a family. It's not often that a mother will advise her daughter against conceiving because the pain is too much to handle. Yet, if in almost any other situation in life, when anyone faces that amount of torment, we will all stand around and curse the pain unendingly.

Why?

Purpose.

The amount we believe in an outcome, or agree with a dream, will directly affect the amount of discomfort we are willing to endure. Have you, or someone you know ever been really badly initiated into a team? Like had to endure some pretty hardcore treatment? In the movie Old School, a group of grown men are 'abducted' by their team leader, and put through a series of interesting commitment tests to show their level of passion before they're allowed joining the group. I won't go into details, but if you've seen the movie you'll know what I'm talking about. It's believable as a script, because we know that these men are so desperate to join what is essentially a sorority.

Or, conversely, I'm sure all of us have heard of an old married couple where one passes away, and very soon after the other does, too. It always saddens me to hear of this, because it seems that they have given up on life, and discovered that without a reason to wake up every morning, life just isn't worth the effort.

The whole idea of purpose has often challenged my barometer for passion. Especially in areas that I consciously claim to have passion. Am I willing to endure higher levels of discomfort than other people would for this cause? If not, can I really claim to have found purpose?

I know I have been given a dream in life. A purpose. A reason to give up more than others, and to risk more than seems logical, and soon I will have to face up to the feelings of discomfort that could challenge my commitment and my passion. The loneliness, the isolation, the frailty and the lack of control of my situation will be all new territories that I will step into, but I need to find the resolve now to overcome and endure. My decision has been made, and my path has been laid before me and, right now, I refuse to accept anything less than full passion for this cause. Because I believe in it, and I have a purpose to play in it.