Death

I've been thinking lately about death. I know, it sounds morbid. But really, I don't think that we think about death enough.

We have a culture of death avoidance, which makes sense considering we're obsessed with youth. One of the earmarks of youth is the fable of immortality -- believing that nothing bad can never happen to you, you're superman.

But sadly, superman is now in a wheelchair.

Death is sad. I don't think you can be honest and not admit this. Even Jesus, upon seeing Lazarus dead, cried. And he was going to raise him from the dead shortly, too. But still, he wept, because Death is intrinsically sad, especially to those left behind.

Yet at the same time, I truly believe that death will be a portal into paradise for me. I love the last scene in CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, where they enter True Narnia (after they all die), and they exuberantly ride further up and further in, pointing out familiar sites, but really only truly seeing them for the first time. I love how Lewis characterizes Heaven as everything that was wonderful about Earth (narnia), but more real and permanent. Sometimes my heart aches when a see what was once a beatiful forest razed to make way for shopping centers. It brings me great hope to think that in Heaven this forest will exist as it was meant to be, unspoiled and radiant.

I believe that heaven will be an incredible place. Not boring at all, no clouds and harps and sitting around with nothing to do. Where people will continue to work, to achieve, to learn, to create, but they will do so as complete people, without sin or weaknesses. Where the proper hierarchy of God and creation and humanity is finally, gloriously restored. People are worshiping what they should. Everyones' heart, mind and body in perfect alignment. Wow, I look forward to this. To reunions with loved ones, family, friends. . .

And I know the accusation. Wish fulfillment. Wishful thinking. Of course you believe in paradise, because you want a paradise. No, some will say, in fact, all that happens after death is eternal sleep, you cease to exist, you end. It's over. Poof. Your flame is extinquished. You "live on" in the memories of your loved ones. And that's it. Come on, face reality.

But you know what? The aforementioned argument is wishful thinking also. Because those people don't know anything about the afterlife, they are merely projected what they hope to be true. This is the end that they want. This is the paradise that they desire.

And honestly, lack of existence post death is pretty appealing, especially if you don't find the idea of a God who is worthy of your utter devotion very palatable. Absolved of all consequence, all pain, all suffering. Just nothingness. In many ways, it's what Hindus and Buddhists strive to achieve (very roughly speaking). It's what they suffer through centuries of atonement in order to earn. And yet, the athiest, materialistic wants me to accept as a matter of fact that it is granted to all humanity -- regardless of their behavior in life, regardless of anything. Hitler dies -- poof eternal rest. No accounting for his millions of murders. Mother Theresa dies -- poof eternal rest. No rewards for her years of selfless service to Bombay's untouchables. Jesus dies -- poof eternal rest. No rewards for his sacrifice. Stalin dies -- poof eternal rest. What's an atrocity here or there anyway. Hitler, Mother Theresa, Jesus, Stalin. . . file them all into the same cosmic file cabinet once they die. And stuff us all in there too. Nothingness.

So there we have it, my wish versus theirs. I believe that an observation of the nature of the universe backs mine up more. Actions have consequences. Things do not merely end. Matter is neither created nor destroyed. Things transfer into other states, from one stage to another. Energy is transferred. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Nowhere can you observe much evidence for anything just ending. Poof. Gone. For Good.

But my wish is built upon faith, so while I appreciate evidence, I freely admit that such evidence isn't incontrovertible and I do not fully rely on it. But the materialist, the athiest, they claim they do value evidence above all else. But what evidence do they have to back up their wish, which is equally built upon faith, just one of a different flavor? I don't think I've seen any. At least none that is very convincing.

So I'll take my charming faith, and temper it with just enough reason to make it strong. They can take their dreary logic, and pretend that it isn't dependant on a shaky faith. In the end, if they're right, it won't matter because I won't care because I won't exist to care. If I'm right. . . that's God's business, not mine. But really, we should all think about death a little more.