It has always intrigued me how out of touch so many of us are about our own mortality. Not that we should go about each day fearful, dreading the inevitable, hiding ourselves from what lurks before us. What I mean is that many think life will always continue unchanged. They believe that what they are living today will always be the same. I’ve been guilty of the same way of thinking too.
It’s reasonable that most people who are living in relative peace and security would think in this way. I mean, why wouldn’t they? When our life feels good and all is well, we want that to go on and on. In contrast, what about those whose lives are chaotic because of a lack of peace? Those who face daily threats to their existence? Their perspective on mortality is going to be different.
One day, it hit me. I don’t recall where I was when reality set in. It was probably in the cemetery park I used to frequent years ago. That cemetery was so peaceful, with beautiful and well-maintained gardens. The place inspired reflection. I need to return there one day. But what I do recall is the realization. Every one of us, past, now, and future, has three certain things in common.
We’re born, we live for a period, and we die.
That was it. That realization, small as it seems, and something seen every day, challenged my perspective.
I had been living my life chasing things that were to come to fruition in a future world. Live righteously today, so God will preserve you for a better life tomorrow. Not that having faith and hope is something bad. These virtues are beneficial when used in the proper way. As a Jehovah’s Witness, I saw too many of us abandoning hopes and dreams of today. We were in the expectation of something better to come.
And that was a wonderful feeling to have in the younger years. Using our energies and resources to preach to all who would listen about the coming new world. As the years go by, you realize something. You see how the sacrifices for the future have robbed you of the means to care for today. You look around and see that many you knew are now resting in peace. That your circle of friends are now the older ones that the youth just don’t understand.
You understand that life will not go on as always. Life is changing.
That’s when it hits you. The circle of life. Life creates more life. But all life eventually decays and dies, making way for a newer life. You see that no one person is superior to another because we all have the same fate. In fact, we are all equal as we share the same three things: birth, life, death. In life, we live with pain and suffering, or with riches and privilege. We will see ourselves as different from others. More superior because of one reason or another. Or, inferior for some other reason.
But in the cemetery, the memorial plaques told the same story for father, mother, sister, and brother. Soldier, officer, teacher, and friend. They came into the world on a certain date, lived for a time, and died on another certain date.
And that is what life is all about. We live to die. That knowledge should motivate us to live our current lives to the fullest. We should use our God-given gifts as intended during our time here. God didn’t give us gifts today for some future life. God intended us to use them now. In 1 Corinthians 12:4, the Apostle Paul says: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” (New International Version).
Life is a wonderful gift as well. And hoping for a better life for all humankind is something good to hold on to. But it will come in God’s due time. Use life up today, doing all God has gifted you to do.
© Marc Townsend
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