This is another meditation that sounds repetitive in the original, so I am going to use an alternate phrasing from the book.
If death is truly the end, then what is there exactly to fear? For everything from your fears to your pain receptors to your worries and your remaining wishes, they will perish with you. As frightening as death might seem, remember: it contains within it the end of fear.
Epictetus
This seems a rather clinical way of looking at death. But I believe it. I mean, I believe that death pretty much ends life. I am not particularly counting on a Big White Glowing man in the clouds suddenly going, "Wait! I made a mistake Scott. Come on in, Brad Pitt is waiting for you and you have a 2:00PM Thursday with Rupert Graves. Remember, Punch a Fascist in the Face Fridays!"
Although that Brad Pitt thing circa: Thelma and Louise would certainly bring me back into the fold.
That being said, Dead's dead in my brain. Sure, we created flying, space missions and Twinkies. Yes, we might conquer death, but we aren't coming back here.
I could post an uplifting quote here or....
Brad Pitt circa Thelma and Louise.. This heaven would get me back to church. |
I don't fear being dead but I do fear how I get that way. I've got my fingers crossed for really, really quick. And I don't think that fear is necessary a bad thing. Sometimes it can stop a person from doing something reckless.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I am not afraid of death. But I am deathly afraid of losing my mind. I don't want to be the Dementia or Alzheimer burden. He is not afraid of this, because he knows I would (loving) help end his suffering. And then enjoy his money.
DeleteHe has vowed to live a long and happy life.