I also just got done watching this Hank Green video about paths to attaining immortality. My favorite is the one about travelling at the speed of light.
But really, it kind of makes me wonder: if I had a way to attain physical immortality, would I take it? I mean, I have my faith, which gives me spiritual immortality. However much faith I have, though, there's still that very human side of me that fears death. I think it's the fact that death is such an unknown that scares me; even though I have faith in what will come after death, there are still those questions. What does it feel like to die? What is going through a person's head when they know they're about to die? Fear? Peace? But to have physical immortality--would that really be worth it?
My fear tells me yes. It tells me that I'd rather have the same kind of human life that I have now. It tells me that death is the end, a destination to be avoided at all costs.
But other parts of me say something different. My faith tells me that what awaits me after death is far superior to what I could ever have in the life I live now; that in my humanity I can't see everything there is to see, can't even fully experience the things that I can see. And isn't that part of what makes our human lives what they are? The sense that we don't--and probably can't--know everything there is to know? The feeling of awe at the mysteries that humanity just can't seem to figure out, no matter how hard we all try? The knowledge that the days we have on Earth are few, and should be used in the best way possible? If people could physically live forever, these things would seem somehow meaningless. Instead of being beautiful, life would be more of a chore. It would just be never ending toil.
Sometimes I wonder if my youth is what makes me feel like I'd want to live forever. Right now, life is pretty easy. It's not perfect, but I haven't lived long enough to be worn out from many years of the work involved in life--jobs, relationships, raising a family, dealing with deaths and tragedies which are unavoidable in life. Sometimes I wonder if people who have lived long lives are actually just ready for all the work and heartache to be over. As many beautiful and wonderful things as there are in life, it's just so hard sometimes.
This all just makes me realize how much I need God. I need Him because without the grace He's given me through Jesus, I would be a mess. Without knowing that when my body dies it isn't the end for me, I would go crazy with the uncertainty of what will happen to me afterward. So I guess that even though my human fear of death makes me think that physical immortality is something very desireable, there's also a part of me that is stronger than death itself (the JESUS part!) that tells me that a short life is better. It is better, more natural, to live a godly life and to die and go to rest in the presence of God than to live forever, with no rest from the troubles that earthly life inevitably brings.
And now, after that seriousness, I'll end with something a little bit more light-hearted.
Lemony Snicket Quote of the Day
"As I'm sure you know, the key to good evesdropping is not getting caught"
