It is perhaps the oldest question known to humankind: “Why was I born?”
This question lives deep within our hearts, whispered as we stare at the stars or lie awake in the quiet of night.
In “Fully Human/Fully Alive,” Lyle Simpson approaches this existential riddle not with rigid answers, but with awe, humility, and encouragement for self-exploration.
Most of us long for certainty—some sign that our existence is part of a cosmic plan. Simpson, however, suggests that seeking an external “why” can be a less fruitful path than crafting meaning from within. He points out that, as science has stripped away some of the mythic explanations once offered by religion, it has also left us freer (if sometimes more unsettled) to author our individual narratives.
The truth is that there may never be a universal or final answer to “Why was I born?” But that doesn’t rob life of significance. In fact, it can prompt us to live more consciously, more creatively, and more rooted in what we truly value. Simpson invites us to make meaning through our choices, kindnesses, passions, and relationships, no matter how grand or humble.
Feeling small or alone in a vast universe is a fundamental human experience. Rather than be defeated by it, Simpson recommends embracing the mystery with curiosity and gratitude, recognizing our shared condition with others. Each of us, he argues, is equipped to seek fulfillment, to leave a mark, and to connect meaningfully—no matter our origins or circumstances.
Instead of viewing the absence of a pre-written destiny as bleak, we can see it as an open canvas. You are here, Simpson assures us, and that is already a miracle. The quest is not to find some elusive, grand reason for existence given by an outside authority, but to cultivate purpose, joy, and contribution in your own way.
Ask yourself: What draws my attention and energy? What actions or relationships warm me with meaning or hope?
In the answers to those questions—and in the courage to live them out—your purpose grows visible, day by day.
In the end, perhaps the most powerful response to “Why was I born?” is not a single revelation, but a life lived wholeheartedly, with intention and wonder.
