Perfect Life Perfect Death A Book of Hope

VI. What Does Death Really Change?

Inherent to the question above would be…what exactly changes what? For we have two questions that lie before us:

Does life change death? (Sense of purpose)

Does death change life? (Sense of urgency)

Let us look at the first question, “Does life change death?” We’ll start with just the facts. Death is inevitable. Life begets death. Life is the only prerequisite for death. All living things die… from cells, to plants, to animals, to men and women. Nothing that lives does not die. Life simply does not change the certainty, the assuredness, or the finality of death.

The deeper question might be, “Is there anything in my life that can affect (change) something about my death?” Herein lies the better question. For if death is the only lasting result of my life, then why is life to be sought after at all? And, why then seek to be an individual, an identity, or a person at all? There is more than ample reason to both seek life and accept death, however, the challenge would be to look at death much differently, and in more than one part. For death indeed encompasses all three of these parts, as seen as:

1 – A Point

2 – A Process

3 – A Picture

1. A Point (An Ending) This part of death, the exact point where life leaves the body, is where most discussions of death drift to. As in Chapter II, we talked about the point of life ending. It is the completion and termination point to any life. This is the most understood part of the path. This is the most visual and most real part of it all, for we see the body, the casket, the funeral, and the grief.

For the living, it is also a real and vivid point, but like many other things, we tend not to talk about our death destination all too much. We acknowledge it, but quite often live as though that day will never come. We know it approaches, yet cannot, or will not, attempt to discern the wisdom that derives from knowing it is coming.

My wife and I recently lost some money by no fault of our own. We are not above exacerbation and frustration, but one discussion about the matter led to our own acknowledgement that although it was a fairly displeasing moment in our lives, what good was it if we also failed to pull the wisdom out of it? This money had reached a destination point also, albeit on a much lesser scale than death itself, but the moment would be lost without a bit of seeking out the “Why me?” question.

There is a proverb written long, long ago that compels us to have the “eyes to see” and the “ears to hear.” The writer certainly encourages us to see the bigger picture of everything set before us (as our money), but including much more (like everything). Life and death may be the biggest part of the picture because all of us see these, as well as possess these. But it is truly more than observation. For if we are to glean the wisdom of this thing we call life and death, there is no substitute for much time and applied contemplation. For wisdom does not come quickly or easily, but it does come to those committed to finding it, for as many who are advanced in age and experience can possess great value in guiding younger people through their own endeavors.

Wisdom is something like using, or applying, what we know. Wisdom is observation. Wisdom is time. Wisdom is conversations, conversing, dialoguing, and consultations. And wisdom is the result of considering what we may not comprehend, understand, or agree upon. Wisdom will cause us to seek knowledge, and its big brother, understanding. Wisdom, applied to life, and thus death, will not be quick to make decisions, but will show patience and consideration, thoughts and ideas not seen before, or words that might bristle at us. And it is wisdom that will cause us to seek a comprehension of why life is what it is, and why death must take place. However, wisdom doesn’t argue with the facts, but seeks peace in what will be. We cannot change reality, but we can look deeper into it with perspective, discernment, patience, and expectation!

For to us who are seeking life as a passage, we will no doubt see death as a point also, but will have confidence that it may not be the final point. For finality ends all things, including hope (positive expectations and anticipation). For those without hope, there simply is no joy in life. Life can easily slip into becoming more meaningless of purpose and more centered around time, as “Ken had a good, long life.” As good and long are synonyms! How do we know that, or come to that conclusion? Does length of days equal a successful life? Under this assumption, it’s all about the point in time and how far away it is from the present time, that makes life acceptable.

However we see this approaching point, whether in hope or trepidation, in expectation or bewilderment, in anticipation or fear, there is something that death does for all of us, because:

Death gives life a finish line!