Action is driven by purpose; people do things for a reason.
Purpose is driven by destiny; the reason for human actions is tied to the
perception of how something or someone has determined the story ends. Destiny is
driven by metanarrative; how the story ends is the final act of the
overarching, controlling, communal story in which people live. Metanarrative,
just as it generates the cosmological aspect of story, also fashions the
eschatological story portion. Metanarrative (being story) has a beginning,
middle, and an end as per Aristotle. How a story ends (the inherent, perceived
destiny) has a profound influence on the understood purpose for living within
that metanarrative. That purpose then motivates the actions of the human players
within the metanarrative. Hence, the story we truly and (often) tacitly live in is
paramount.
I read this over and over, and I think I am starting to "get it".. I have nothing further to say...
ReplyDeleteJoel, sorry about any (well, ok, "all") convolutedness. Bottom line is that we do things (our actions) and think a particular way because of how we tacitly believe "the story" ends. If I really believe the story ends with a personal Creator-ordained heaven or hell instead of believing the world will eventually end in some impersonal, cosmic accident (as it began), my purpose for living and my daily actions will demonstrate my perception about the end of the story. My perception of the future greatly affects how I live in the present. Merry Christmas!
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