My wife and I just watched Black Panther and loved it. As I watched it, I was reminded of the topic for this post from a scene.
After the hostile takeover of the kingdom by Erik Killmonger, T’Challa (Black Panther) goes to the land of his ancestors and meets his father. When his father beckons him to come join them, T’Challa refuses. Acceptance would have meant death for good.
More important than his choice to go back was the reason. In fact, without the reason, he would have joined his father. He was in a near-death experience and his life was almost over.
The reason he chose to go back? He had a life purpose and meaning that were greater than himself. There was a wicked king in Wakanda. His people, country, and the world were in danger. He knew he could do something about it. In fact, his father’s errors created that monster and he wanted to do better. In the African context of the movie, the ancestors are gods.
Purpose is the one thing that can allow you to bargain with death and win. The gods may listen to purpose and nothing else. Purpose doesn’t always win the bargain, but it does many times. And it’s the only thing that can win. Money doesn’t, power doesn’t, women don’t, and popularity doesn’t. Only purpose has a chance.
This is not something that happens only in movies. A patient suffering from cancer and undergoing treatment has a better chance at beating it when he/she has purpose and meaning. I’ve seen many situations where purpose and meaning help patients pull through.
A lot of people die shortly after their retirement. Without purpose, we have nothing to bargain with the gods and with death.
When you have a big purpose to do good that is greater than yourself, even the gods will listen to your case and let you rise from death like T’Challa, the Black Panther.
Do you have a purpose? Do you know your calling?
Related article: DESIGN: 6 Keys to Finding Your Calling or Element
About the Author
