What is Life?

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure … but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan

It is said that there are two things humans can’t avoid: death and taxes (though some have already perfected the art of cheating the system and evading taxes, that’s a story for another day)

Undoubtedly, death is a common denominator that affects us all: the wealthy and economically disadvantaged; the educated and uneducated; the morally upright, and the ‘loose.’ No one is exempt. Death is intrusive – it comes without a moment’s notice and sears familial and filial ties. Death is recursive – it doesn’t respect the number of times a particular family or community has suffered its wrath, for it can strike repeatedly and unashamedly. As a consequence, many of us, if not all, would do anything to ‘escape,’ even if it means prolonging life by just a few moments.

But what is it that makes us so afraid of death? I can only think of two reasons: Either from the onset of our existence, the Creator never meant any of us to die, no wonder it feels like a foreign occurrence; Or life on earth is so pleasant that we can’t bear the thought of ‘leaving’ for good. But is the latter really true? That life is too good to leave? A closer reflection paints a totally different picture.

What is Life? Is it working so hard to amass wealth yet without any guarantee that you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labour? For “the more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth–except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!”

What is Life? Is it leaving your hard-earned wealth to those who care less? Is it overtaxing your mind with much learning aiming at undoing ignorance, yet in addition, you end up acquiring more sorrow and hurt on account of your increased knowledge? Is it to live in order to be remembered by future generations? Good luck trying that. As Robin Sharma said, “Our lives are mere blips in the canvas of eternity.” 

What is Life? If justice is infinitely denied and evil is constantly awarded? If social & economic inequalities are accepted and propagated rather than being detested and abated? If, despite all our knowledge and advancements, we remain vulnerable, exposed to the day of our death, and are extremely powerless against that which is the enemy of all men?

I am glad the Wiseman provided wise and well-thought counsel about the real meaning of life: “Life is a corkscrew that can’t be straightened, a minus that won’t add up… The best you can do with your life is to take care of yourself, have a good time and get by the best you can, for that’s our lot. Who knows if there’s anything else to life?”

“Make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work, for people who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.”

“On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted…You who are young make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigour. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.”

“So banish grief and pain, but remember that youth, with a whole life before it, still faces the threat of meaninglessness…Fear God. Do what he tells you…And that’s it. Eventually, God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.”

So that’s it, folks: the true meaning of life. If we can somehow follow his counsel, perchance, we won’t have a reason to fear death as much as we do. Why? The Almighty who fashioned us into existence, who sustains our livelihoods, will someday perform the Great Reversal: Death decimated and forgotten, forever as it were in the beginning.

Cheers, good people, to a week and lifetime buoyed by formidable hope!!