| I grew up in the south in the 1960's. | | | | really nice to be able to soar like that. |
| Married when I was 18 and joined the Army | | | | Then I thought, do eagles look at us and wish |
| when I was 23. I traveled to Germany then | | | | they were like us?That is when something |
| back to the states where I lived in | | | | inside me clicked. It was more like an |
| Connecticut for a while and then Tennessee | | | | explosion or an awakening of sorts. The |
| for 10 years. I am now living in Maine.Of | | | | meaning of life was so simple that I had |
| all the traveling I have done in my life I | | | | looked right past it thinking that it would |
| have heard people asking one question | | | | be some big discovery of some sort. Some |
| constantly. It doesn't matter if you are | | | | words of wisdom that would make me look like |
| religious or not. We all want to know "What | | | | a genius. |
| is the meaning of life?" I myself have asked | | | | |
| that question a thousand times.Socrates and | | | | Instead three words kept going through my |
| Plato and a thousand other deep thinkers of | | | | brain. Thundering as if God himself was |
| their times have tried to define or explain | | | | speaking them directly into my thoughts.We |
| the meaning of life. Each with his own | | | | spend our entire lives from the moment we |
| perception and understanding and most times | | | | take our first breath til our last one is |
| with a very complicated explanation.It was | | | | used up trying to be something we aren't. |
| not until I took up hiking in the mountains | | | | Whether we are trying to get a job by seeming |
| of Tennessee that I had plenty of time to | | | | more experienced or trying to win someones |
| ponder the complexities of this age old | | | | heart by becoming the person they are looking |
| question. Being a Christian I was raised to | | | | for. We act differently in different |
| believe certain things and to look at life in | | | | situations. Why?It is in our nature I |
| certain ways. But as I got older and began | | | | suppose or at least the nature of the flesh. |
| studying and searching for myself I began to | | | | But God's nature is to be the same yesterday, |
| realize that what I was taught as a child was | | | | today and tomorrow. And since we are to |
| not as complicated as some would have had me | | | | strive to be more "God-like", which I used to |
| believe.I always wondered why God would have | | | | think meant to try to be perfect, then the |
| put us here simply to suffer through this | | | | meaning of life is nothing more than to "JUST |
| life. After all he does love us and of that | | | | BE YOU!"Yep, it is just that simple. Be you |
| I have no doubt. So why then? I studied and | | | | no matter what happens or where you are or |
| pondered and reflected in deep thought just | | | | who you are with or what you are trying to |
| like many have before me, and like them, to | | | | achieve. If you can do this you will be |
| no avail.Then one day while hiking the | | | | something that the majority of people will |
| Appalachian Trail in Tennessee I came to a | | | | never be. Good, bad or indifferent you will |
| clearing overlooking a valley. It was a | | | | just be you.John Dyer is the owner of: |
| clear day with the sun shining bright. As I | | | | thisonlinepage.comT.H.I.S stands for Truth |
| looked out across the valley I saw an eagle | | | | Honesty Integrity Sincerity - something the |
| soaring on the wind. And as usual the | | | | author has found too little of online. |
| thought crossed my mind that it would be | | | | |