Where from Where to And Why.docx

They say that a fool lives to eat and a wise man eats to live. But then the question remains: for what purpose does the wise man live? Living is not an end by itself. There has to be a purpose for man to live for. So what is this purpose?Where from?? Where to?? And Why?Any ignorance, however great, could be forgiven except for man to be ignorant about the secret of his existence, his aim in life and what will be his outcome after death. Some thinkers express these questions in simple words: where from? Where to? And why? Meaning: where did I come from? Where am I going? And why am I here?Those who only believe in the material world and who do not believe in a Creator- the atheists- only believe in sensory data. They say that this universe and everything in it came by itself. All its order is simply due to blind coincidence. They say that man is simply like an animal or a plant and that he will exist for a short period and then end like any other animal or plant.An Arab Poet, Elya Abu Madhi (a born-Christian), not long ago expressed his uncertainty about the purpose of life in his Arabic poem Al-Talasim, meaning “puzzles,” which I have translated into English. He says in his poem:I came not knowing from where, but I came.And I saw a pathway in front of me, so I walked.And I will remain walking, whether I want this or not.How did I come? How did I see my pathway?I do not know!Am I new or am I old in this existence?Am I free and unrestrained, or do I walk in chains?Do I lead myself in my life, or am I being led?I wish I know, but…I do not know!And my path, oh what is my path? Is it long or is it short?Am I ascending in it, or am I going down and sinking?Am I the one who is walking on the road,or is it the road that is moving?Or are we both standing, but it is the time that is running?I do not know!Before I became a full human, do you seeif I were nothing, impossible? Or do you see that I was something?Is there an answer to this puzzle, or will it remain eternal?I do no