Introduction: The Musings of a Terminal Being

There are only two common denominators that unite every human being, only two experiences that are absolute in every human’s existence: conception and death. Conception, of course, is a prerequisite for life. It follows that every human who is conceived will eventually die.

Death is a relentless force, completely unpreventable and frighteningly unpredictable. Death is completely oblivious to racial, religious, and socio-cultural backgrounds, and ignores the boundaries of space and time (striking anyone anywhere at anytime).

No matter who a person becomes, what they contribute to society, or who they build relationships with, it is a fact that their life will inevitably end. It is because of this that I have come to label myself as a “terminal being”. That is, I, like every other human being, began to move towards death immediately after conception.

My personal terminality is perhaps my greatest concern in life. Not a day goes by that I consider the brevity of life and the certainty of death. I know that my existence grows more uncertain with each breath, heartbeat, and thought. As the Greek dramatist Euripides said, “No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.” Some may consider my preoccupation with this to be a curse. I, however, consider my knowledge of my terminality to be a great blessing. You see, one cannot separate an awareness of death from an awareness of life.

Moses was fully aware of this concept when he wrote Psalm 90, which reads,

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place
        in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
        or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
        from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
 
You turn us back to dust,
        and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
For a thousand years in your sight
        are like yesterday when it is past,
        or like a watch in the night.
 
You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
        like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
        in the evening it fades and withers.
 
For we are consumed by your anger;
        by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
        our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
 
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
        our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years,
        or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
        they are soon gone, and we fly away.
 
Who considers the power of your anger?
        Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
So teach us to count our days
        that we may gain a wise heart.
 
Turn, O LORD! How long?
        Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
        so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
        and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
        and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
        and prosper for us the work of our hands—
        O prosper the work of our hands!“

The brilliant beauty of life truly illuminates the shadows of death. As such, life is more than worthy of exploration, contemplation, and interaction. The purpose of this blog is thusly to ask questions, think about, and examine life and everything contained therein.