Background:

The hit song, “Alfie”, released in 1966 by Cilla Black in the UK, had as it’s main recurring question, “What’s it all about?”

The lyrics (below) have a number of questions flowing from that one basic question.  Other variations on the question might be:
“What is the purpose of life?”;
“What are we here for?”

The sad fact of life is that it goes by all too quickly.  When young, we might make decisions in a carefree way, only to find in later years that, with each choice we make along the way, multiple other opportunities are closed and lost forever.  What was our path meant to have been?

In my late teens, while staying at a mainstream Christian-based university residential college, I put the above question to a coffee gathering, which included fellow students and a professor.  The unanimous response I received was, “You don’t ask that type of question!”  The consensus was that we just accept the social values and aims (or idols?) we have been given, and run with those as hard as we can.  For students who have chosen a career to study, perhaps that is the only way to graduate and make their way.
But that answer never satisfied me.

Question:

What is our purpose in life, what are we here for?

Link to song:

“Alfie”, sung by Cilla Black

Lyrics:

“Alfie” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

What’s it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?

And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie
I know there’s something much more
Something even non-believers can believe in

I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you’ll find love any day, Alfie
Alfie

References:

I didn’t realise at the time, but King Solomon had reflected on the same sorts of questions a few thousand years ago, and recorded his thoughts in the book of Ecclesiastes.