Death is our wedding with eternity
- Rumi
It was a holiday. Clouds hung low after a heavy rain. Trees stood still letting the earth soak the droplets.I was engrossed in a WW-II movie drifting somewhere in the pacific agitated over getting caught. My roommate was scrolling through the day's feed and he suddenly quipped,
" Poor Walker died today, you know?"
Not turning my vision by a bit I asked, " Walker ?? ...which walker ?”.
" Of course Paul Walker, man”.
I paused the movie. My unconscious was caught by the first phrase ..poor walker!!!
Call it human ignorance or arrogance , I prefer foolishness though, we live almost oblivious to certain facts , some of the most certain ones being - birth and death. We live a life of uncertainty with an air of certitude, not bothered by a bit until a dreaded certainty smashes us right in the head and pierces our hearts. Each day we wither away not knowing that we are closer to our graves than the cradles. I wonder sometimes if the human race is actually God's wisest creation or the foolhardy and the laughable. A creation which has almost everything figured out except himself. A creation enlightened enough to know what is to happen but equally insane to not consider it.
Here's a fact. We are all going to die. No one here gets out alive.
Read that again.
Read that again.
Have you ever given it a thought that one day you will have close your eyes forever. Everything that you ever held dearly will vanish in a flicker and your mortal ego will be buried forever with the last sunset. You will cease to exist in this world. Even more discomforting is the way you will breathe your last.
A disturbing thought yet inevitable.
In a certain way I find death the most just of all for it does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, the old and the young. It comes to us all alike and we shall never know when. Out there among the blossoming flowers and singing birds looms death- both for you and me.
The final moment arrives, your heart wrenches out in regret of all the things you didn't do. You will be prepared to give everything to behold the sight of your loved ones, to hold their hands, to tell them how much they mean to you and how much you love them. Your eyes will implore - just one more sunrise.Every small thing will hold so much. The air will hang heavily, numerous thoughts will pierce your heart. A final goodbye - a final heartbreak.
Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.
How well have you lived ? Have you enjoyed living every moment?
And mind you , your car or job or the mansion you own does not figure anywhere in this calculation (at least not in mine) . We are talking about the days you have lived carefree and selflessly. We are talking about the moments when you hugged a complete stranger and enjoyed the rain. The days you’ve spent so content that if you breathe your last here and now, you’ll have no regrets.
And mind you , your car or job or the mansion you own does not figure anywhere in this calculation (at least not in mine) . We are talking about the days you have lived carefree and selflessly. We are talking about the moments when you hugged a complete stranger and enjoyed the rain. The days you’ve spent so content that if you breathe your last here and now, you’ll have no regrets.
But Alas ! Poor us! Poor Walkers! We have got a job to worry about, relationships to keep, monthly instalments to pay and our own petty ego to feed. We go about our lives ignoring the morning sun, the shower of rain, the setting sun, the smell of books, the silver moonlight and the sweet mystery of life - there’s much we - the blessed souls shall never know.
Sure you tried your best living. You worked hard and did everything else that is asked of this worldy being. Invested big time all your life - education,real estate, bonds, stocks and commodities. But Somewhere in the middle of it all take care not to miss out on little big things- art, spirituality , vacation , health and family. Be grateful for today and each day and never take anything for granted. Life is a blessing. Life is short, do not waste time trying to be perfect. Embrace each imperfection, spread love and kindness and run towards life fulsomely and freely and accept death thankfully with a smile for giving meaning to our lives.
What holds after death is an unanswered question but to quote Crowe from Gladiator, "what we do in this life echoes till eternity". Let us live a life that will honour our memories.
.........and when it was time to leave
gracefully it knew life was a gift.
