Good Things Are Useless

We learn early to value what is useful,

what is productive.

We ask:

What is it for?

What good can come out of it?

I get it—I really do.

But let’s not get trapped by usefulness,

as if everything in life must be useful.

If something is useful,

it’s not the highest thing.

It serves a purpose beyond itself—

it’s meant to lead us to something greater.

We respect hard work, for it is useful

in leading us to success, recognition,

admiration and self-esteem.

We treasure money,

for it provides necessities, comfort,

security and social standing.

But, the ultimate good

is not useful at all, because

it is the very end of all usefulness.

So when you find something

that fills you with pure joy—

like love, passion, and beauty—

that gives you meaning

with seemingly no usefulness,

don’t dismiss it.

For in that moment,

you are immersed in the ultimate good

to which all usefulness is meant to lead.

The greatest good of all is good in itself—

needing no further purpose,

no measure of usefulness—

like these human beings I call my own.