Think about death

 Death is one of those topics people are reticent to talk about. For most, the only way they feel comfortable about broaching the subject is in the context of religion. Most religions allow us to consider death not as something final, the end of life, but rather as a doorway to a new and improved life. 

What do you do if you don't believe there is anything after this life? What comfort is there? The answer is rather simple and stoic: There is nothing, so just resign yourself to it and enjoy what you have now. This seems a fairly decent answer both for the religious and the atheist. So many of us focus so much on the after that we impede our now. The adage, "Live like there's no tomorrow", has some merit here. Not that we shouldn't plan for tomorrow, but that we should live in a way that focuses on the present in such a way that as we draw closer to the end (whenever that might be) we aren't filled with regret for what we did or did not do. 

This is where thinking about death can be helpful provided it is done gently and in the right context. Constantly ruminating to the point of depression and despair would be unhelpful and even dangerous. But spending time understanding death as the end (even if you ultimately don't believe it is) can be helpful.  Understanding that our after life will be no different than the millions of years that existed before we were born can give us a better perspective of our lives. We aren't all that important. Most of the world - enough to say 'all' - does not know or care that we exist. In fact, it will only take a few short generations for us to be completely forgotten from memory. Even if we take pictures and video log our lives, it is doubtful anyway would care to see them.  

Should this fill us with despair? No. It should humble us and inspire us to focus on the here and now. Influence those around us by respecting and loving them. Leave a legacy for those who follow us, not because they remember us but because they have been influenced to work, think and behave in better ways than if we hadn't been in their lives. 

So take time to humbling understand your place in this life and then go out there and do something good for others and yourself. 

Optimistic pessimists?

I use to think monastics (monks and nuns) where all perpetual pessimists. Black garments, mournful chanting, fasting, talk of sin, death and demons. But I realize now this isn't pessimism at all. At least, not when looking at these things from their point of view.  Now that I've gotten to participate in the Orthodox church and have met some monks and have spoken to my daughter who has met a few nuns I have come to see the incessant, almost to the point of embarrassment, celebratory spirit to be found among these folk and, indeed, the Church as a whole. Glorifying God, enjoying communion with saints, singing songs of celebration, the death of sin, the reversal of death and the defeat of demons and Satan himself. The pessimism I once saw was the result of me transposing my ideas onto that of the monastics. As soon as I started to participate in the life they enjoy I began to see things from their perspective. I too started to become an optimist.