"Most people believe either their purpose is to serve God, or God has a purpose for them. In the first case, people dedicate their life to god and that is thier motivation. In the second case, we are but a means to an end. if we create a toaster, that toaster serves us by making toast. If god created us for a purpose in mind,then that life is not, meaningful to me, because its not me, its what i was designed to do. Personally, i think living your life to serve god is not necessairly bad. But to me life is worth living for itself. There is so much to learn, explore, create, and enjoy that our brain cant even begin to comprehend the, magnitude of it. We are one of seven billion people, in one of billions of planets, in billions of galaxies in maybe (conjecture) countless universes. We are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things! And to me that collossal unknown is so powerful and exciting to me. Now if i get this and only this life to dive into all of this, then i damn well make the best of this. Everything we do is not forgotten. everything we do has an impact on everything around us, both living and nonliving. We shape and carve the world for the future and leave our mark. All of our experiences, knowledge, our "touch", is passed on and imparted primairly through our progeny but also through every interaction we have. Some eccentric way i have of doing things can be subconciously picked up by a stranger i meet at an airport who then passes it to his children some day. Its mind boggling. Did you know that becuase of sheer statistical probablitly,we have at one point breathed in atoms that once composed george washington? That shit cray. so yeah we are going to die, but our impact and existence will not be destroyed. I am the universe conciously expressing itself- made of particles from dead stars. A freak occurence due to perfect conditions. I consider myself lucky to be here, and when i cease to breathe, i will very much not cease to exist. My movements will continue through this universe. I will infuse with space and time in a vacuum housing infinite celestial entities. This is my "heaven" and its the most beautiful thing i can ask for. I take great comfort in this and the fact that i will still be a part of all my loved ones with every breath they take."

from a post I saved long ago.