Smiley: Are you living a life in service to a just cause — or just because?

What are you living your life in service to? What is your moral mission?

Recently I was given the honor of speaking at the funeral of the artistic genius Al Jarreau, a great friend to public broadcasting. Jarreau is the only vocalist to win a Grammy in three different categories — Jazz, Pop and R&B. I was delighted to have him join me as a guest on my public radio and television programs many times during his illustrious career.  

Funerals and memorials invite us to reflect on that which our friends and loved ones lived their lives in service to. You can live your life for a just cause, or, just because. 

It can be tricky trying to eulogize one whose life and legacy was, shall we politely say, underwhelming. I make no judgments, people are free to navigate their lives as they see fit. But it's a daunting challenge for a eulogist to try to create in death, what one never quite achieved in life.

But when a person has dedicated his or her life and legacy to a commitment or cause that has empowered, inspired and enhanced our lives, honoring them is easy, no alternative narrative has to be concocted. Thanks, Al. 

Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worth living. To be fully human, we have to be willing to wrestle with why our existence matters, and set about earning our right to be here. Recognizing that we will never experience the fullness of our own individual humanity, if we cannot revel and rejoice in the humanity of every other fellow citizen. 

I have always been taught that our love and service to others is the rent we pay for the space we occupy. 

I decided long ago that I would live my life in service to the truth. But I've learned that there is the truth, and there is the way to the truth. We have to be humble enough to acknowledge that none of us has a monopoly on the truth, even as we strive to live lives and leave legacies that are rooted in the truths that we do know.  

We should all be striving to be gatekeepers of truth. Especially in times like these.   

As I sat waiting to speak at Jarreau's funeral, I thought of a conversation we once had where he shared with me his view about the "thumbprint on our throat." As surely as each of us has a thumbprint on our hand that makes us uniquely different from any other human being in the history of the world, we also have a thumbprint on our throat. "You just have to find your voice," said Jarreau.

What are you living your life in service to?  What is your moral mission?  Are you being true to the thumbprint on your throat? Have you found your voice?

To wit, some thoughts, if you're still trying to figure it all out:

1. Live by your hopes, not by your fears — you cannot make good choices about anything if you're afraid of the results or consequences of your actions. 
2. You have to fight to be different — be your authentic self, fly or fail. 
3. Conformity curbs freedom of thought — there are too many impersonators and not enough innovators in the world. Too many copies not enough originals. 
4. Do what you believe, not what you find expedient — what is your personal mission statement? Your mission statement should be like the secret password for your life. 
5. Don't be afraid to navigate the unknown — the unknown is scary and intimidating, but it's also rejuvenating and exhilarating. 
6. Al Jarreau was iconic because he was unafraid to authorize his own reality. You have to fall in love with the possibility of you. Don't star in a life written, produced and directed by somebody else.

ACTION!