I have recently come to the realization that I can't personally save the world, nor would it matter if I truly tried to save the world.  I used to be strong supporter of every social action cause that came along that would somehow make people's lives better.  Save Darfur?  Of course!  Promote recognition of the Armenian Genocide? Of Course!  Support the fight against heart disease, cancer, AIDS, etc. Or course! Save the environment! Of course! But in the end, it doesn't really matter.  There will always be more problems in this world that can't be solved.  I used to believe that that it would be through human advancement and cooperation that eventually a messianic age would be reached.  But in honesty, I have came to the realization that that it is impossible on our own to reach such a point in our existence. 

As a rational evolutionist that rejects the existence of God and understands that life on earth is a spontaneous and purposeless occurrence, I must acknowledge that life on this planet will eventually wither and cease to exist.  What difference does it make if it happens in my lifetime, my grandchildren's lifetime, or my great-grandchidlren's lifetime?  It all comes to the same result and to strive against this obvious fact is utter futility.

And as a strong believe in a personal Creator, I must believe that He understood how we would be as His creation and would therefore intervene when our existence became imperiled, unless He willed otherwise.  So either we will be saved or we will be allowed to eventually bring about our own extinction.  Given this realization, why should I continue to strive even a single day after the realization of the utter futility of effort to live a productive, philanthropic life?

For two reasons; one from each perspective.  From my rationalist, atheististic perspective, my defined goal for life on this gravity well is too just enjoy each day as much as I can, because eventual nothingness is a certainly while existence is downright precarious and quite miraculous.  Therefore, working and supporting the causes that I believe will promote pleasure and enjoyment in this world are worthwhile and each day alive should be seized and celebrated.  And from my perspective as a believer, the key to life is have the faith that God will save us from ourselves if we follow His will.  Therefore, I should strive to fulfill the mitzvot because that will hasten the coming the Olam haBa.   So my key to life must be to acknowledge both aspects.  Fulfill my obligations as a secular humanist and ensure that life is enjoyable for the sake of life itself and fulfill my obligations as a Jew so that eventually I will reach salvation.  And I think that I can live with such a goal in mind.