Today I give thanks for the time that defines my existence here on earth. Without the clear boundaries of time that established my birth – and that at some point will define my death – life could easily become a meaningless meandering here and there and nowhere at all!
The difficulty is HOW can we live as though we will live to be 120 and yet at the same time understand that we could die tomorrow – maybe even in the next hour? Recent longevity research shows that people live longer and healthier if their lives have purpose. Yet how can we find purpose within such an ill-defined timeframe?
Perhaps death doula Alua Arthur can help. She explains how thinking about death will help us live a better life, however long that life is. When approached with a decision, we can use her “deathbed test” to help us determine which action to take. This test consists of three questions: On my deathbed, will I be mad I did it? Will I be sad I didn’t do it? Will it even matter? According to Arthur, the majority of our decisions never pass the muster of these three questions.
What would happen if we began using this test – especially for the difficult decisions so many of us are facing right now? Difficult decisions such as: What can I do to counter current narratives trashing LGBTQ people, non-Christians, people of color, immigrants, people who are differently abled? How can I speak out against hate? What concrete steps can I take to help bring about Dr. King’s “beloved community”?
On my own deathbed, will I be mad that I spoke out? Will I be sad if I just ignore what’s going on in the world around me? And will any actions I take actually matter? As I determine the next best steps that I can take, these are the questions that will help guide me.
Today I give thanks for the time that defines my existence here on earth and pray that my actions within my given time will make a difference.
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