The title says it all....What is the purpose of life, there has to be something im missing.

Your born in one hospital and you die in another, the purpose is to not screw it up too much in between.....so far I'm missing the mark!

That sounds like the best explaination Ive had yet dude....Ill go with that one .

Actually that was a bit cynical!

We find the meaning to life in our relationship w/God, w/out that there is no meaning, as King Solomon taught.

That may have been true of me in the past, but I'm trusting God can change my purpose. Up untill this point in my life it has been impossible for me to abstain from porn and self abuse for very long, it has been almost a month since I have yeilded to either. May God continue to work His grace in my life, and may I continue to recieve it not in vain, may all of us do so.

Amen to that, Mark.

This is a really good topic and something I ponder on a daily basis.
And yes I like Mark's tongue in cheek answer.

Seriously though I wonder everyday 'What the hell is the point of all this?"
You work to buy crap you don't need , food and shelter that you do. You are born helpless only to eventually become helpless again.
Everything in the world is only temporary.
The only thing that seems to stay is pain and suffering.

Don't read into this and think I'm suicidal, I'm not. I just don't really see the point in it all. Without joy, life is meaningless and it's been a long time since I had any joy in my life.
Everyday is just an endless procession of minutes. Sleep is the biggest joy in my life.
But as a therapist told me : "if nothing is worth living for, than nothing is worth dying for"

Im tired of the frigging physical pain. some days i seriously consider a way out of the pain , but thats the cowards way out.....Giving up just isnt an option anymore for me I guess.

When the really dark thoughts flitter through my mind I remind myself

"If I quit then the world wins. And the world's been trying to bring me down since I could crawl but I'm not gonna let it win"

I never thought about offering it up as pennance....This is something i might want to loook into , thanx dude. deal with pain with joy as christ found joy in winning our salvation.

It's hard to do but it is a really good idea.
My Aunt calls suffering on earth carrying your cross. She says that everyone carries a cross at sometime, it matters how you do it.

Can I share one of my regular grim quotes? The day I start quoting stuff about flowers and butterflies you guys will know I have officially checked out and am headed to the bouncy walled room.
Anyway, I was flipping through the book As I Lay Dying. I love that book on so many levels.
Anyway Addie says this:
"My father used to say the purpose for living is to get ready to stay dead a long time"

I thought of this topic when I was flipping through the book and came to that chapter.