A young man once asked a wise man what the meaning of life was. The wise man smiled, and said, I cannot tell you right now, but I know where the answer is.” He handed the young man a map leading to a faraway destination. “My brother will be there when you arrive,” the wise man said.

    The map first led the man along rows of trees overlooking quiet streams. At first, the man ran through the forest, as he was anxious to get to his destination. Then, however, he found himself stopping to look at the beautiful patterns of bark and the pleasant colors of the leaves.

    Later on, he exited the forest and entered a village. The inhabitants were very poor, and he hurried so that he did not have to look at the sad conditions they lived in for too long. Soon, though, he slowed down in order to reflect on their state. He donated what he could and helped out around the village. He occupants of the small town were grateful, and invited him to stay for longer, but he mentioned his quest and continued on.

    In a few days, the man reached a massive lake. He sped on at first, for he was nearing the end of the map, but once again he slowed his pace, taking time to observe the colorful fish that swam beneath his boat. The edge of the lake was situated next to a tall cliff. He walked alongside chasms and precipices, and took shelter near towering waterfalls. The environment frightened him, and he wished to get out of it as quickly as possible. While running across a trail, the man stumbled and broke his foot. The prospect of having to spend a few weeks to recover frightened him, but while resting he noticed things about the landscape that he had not seen before the fall. The man sketched rock formations that looked like people, and built a collection of strange stones.

Although his foot healed quickly and he was healthy enough to travel, he kept a slow pace for the rest of his time along the cliff, so that he could observe the land better. As the man progressed, he covered many lands with many different people. He rushed through them at first, eager to reach the end of the map, but began to walk slower and slower because he was so intrigued by each location. Soon, the man began sleeping in hotels for weeks at a time instead of passing by in days. Sometimes, he would dive in an area for months, exploring new parts of lands each day. HE continued to travel towards the end of the map, but did so more slowly than before. After years of travel, he crossed a final mountaintop and processed jubilantly down the other side. IN just a few hours, he would be at his final destination.

    The spot on the map that held the meaning of life was located next to a bend in a stream. He saw such a bend, and ran towards it. As he approached, however, he noticed that he was nearing a small stump. As the man walked up to it, he saw a plaque on top of it that read:
    “The meaning of life.”
    A house lay just behind the stump. He knocked, and an old man came out. “You must be the wise man’s brother,” the young man said.
    “That is correct,” said the old man.
    “Is that stump the meaning of life” He pointed back towards the plaque.
    “Yes.”
    “I do not understand,” said the young man.
    The old man’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled.
    “I can tell that you have truly discovered the meaning of life,” he said.

    “How is that possible?” retorted the young man. “I do not understand how the stump is the meaning of life.”
    The old man walked over to the stump, and he motioned the young man to follow. They sat near the stump and faced each other.
    “Originally, you ran quickly towards the stump,” the old man said. “Finding the meaning of life was more important than anything else. Soon, however, you began to slow down and appreciate the world around you. You had not given up on finding the meaning, for you are here today, but began to appreciate the journey and not just the goal."

    The young man was still confused.
    “What does this have to do with finding the meaning of life?” he asked.
    The old man stood up and touched the stump. “I placed this very far away from the beginning of your quest. While you were traveling towards it, you saw many strange and interesting things. You crossed grassy hilltops, rocky valleys, cities of gold and cities of dirt. You navigated oceans, rainforests, and fields. You talked with people who had lots of wealth, and you talked to those who had none.

    “My friend, you were put on this Earth to learn, to explore, and to help. Originally, you did not stop to do any of these things, but then realized their importance. You helped those who were poor, learned about new things, and ventured into the unknown. This trunk was placed far away so that you would have plenty of time to understand what is truly important.

    “You see, my friend, the meaning of life is all around you, and you were the first I have ever known to discover it. My brother has sent many on this quest to discover the meaning of life. They arrived within weeks, for they never stopped to observe or help. When they saw the stump, they were dejected, and quickly traveled back home.

    “You, my friend, are different. You knew, deep inside, that the meaning of life cannot be discovered by simply arriving at a destination. The meaning of life, which is to explore, learn, and help, is embedded within the journey, not found in accomplishment. By doing all three of those things during your quest, you have discovered the meaning of life.”