We all have a purpose in life and come to realize it after we know the meaning of life.

When asked the question, “What is the meaning of life?” Greek philosopher Dr. Alexander Papaderos took his wallet from his hip pocket, fished into the leather billfold, brought out a very small round mirror about the size of a quarter and replied with the following answer:

“When I was a small child during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village.  One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place.

“I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine — in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find.

“I kept the little mirror and as I went about my growing up. I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game, but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of the light. But light, truth, understanding, or knowledge, is there and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.

“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world — into the black places in the hearts of men — and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”

(Taken from Robert Fulghum’s book, “It was on fire when I lay down on it.”

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.