“On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk

“An awareness of death encourages us to live …” ~ Paulo Coelho

When Alexander the Great was coming to India, he met Diogenes. It was a winter morning, a cool breeze was blowing, and Diogenes was lying on the riverbank, taking a sunbath. Now Diogenes had nothing, not even a begging-bowl, and yet Alexander had never seen such a graceful man (for when a body has chosen to live as a Loving Soul, a Beauty arises therefrom which is not of this world). In utter awe of Diogenes’ serenity, Alexander said, “Sir, being immensely impressed by your being, I would like to do something for you.” Diogenes replied, “Simply stand to the side because you are blocking the sun– Nothing else do I need.” Alexander then said, “If I have another chance to come to the earth I will ask God, instead of making me Alexander again, to make me like you.” Diogenes laughed and he said, “Who is preventing you fro doing so right now? For months I have seen your armies moving and preparing–where are you going? and for what?” Alexander replied, “I am going to India to conquer the world.” “And then what are you going to do?” Diogenes asked. And Alexander said, “Then, I will rest and extend just Kindness to all those I meet.” Diogenes laughed again and said, “How odd! I have not conquered the world, and yet I am resting now — already I am gentle & Kind. Who has told you that before you can be Kind, you must conquer your enemies? tell you now: if you don’t choose Kindness now, you never will. Something or other will always remain to be conquered. And time is fleeting. You will die in the middle of your journey–because everybody dies in the middle of the journey, and you will do so without having know real Love.” Alexander did indeed die in the middle — while he was returning from India, he died. And on that day he remembered Diogenes.” ~ unknown

There is nothing like a nice bout of intense illness (or injury or accident or failure) to wake us up to the Truth illustrated by this parable — that even if we are young &/or healthy &/or powerful &/or wealthy, we are all very close to death indeed. We are all very very close to departing this glorious gift of life that we have been given. And when we do go, we will take absolutely nothing with us; not even the “fun we had”; not even our “success”; not even the personal identities we have so finely honed over the years since our births.

Will our “Souls” live forever? Maybe so (we are ALL going to be a bit surprised with what comes hereafter) …
And yet one thing is for sure: “You” as you know “You” today will NOT be making that trip.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand ……. THIS IS A GOOD THING!

You see, THIS Truth is what makes every moment of THIS life priceless …

It is THIS Truth that makes every selfless act a deed of true Power,

and it is THIS Truth that has every conscious moment literally overflowing with amazing Beauty —

… if only we would pause to notice those miracles;

if only we would reach out to do those Kind deeds.

So let’s avoid saying that we are going to serve our communities tomorrow;

that tomorrow we will be Kind to a stranger;

that tomorrow we will forgive an enemy;

that tomorrow we will give past the point of comfort.

Why tomorrow?
Tomorrow never comes.

Why not now?

………………………………….

“The story of my recent life” makes more sense to me than “the story of my life”, because we get so many lives between birth and death. A life to be a child. A life to come of age. A life to wander, to settle, to fall in love, to parent, to test our promise, to realize our mortality – and in some lucky cases, to do something after that realization.” ~ Mitch Albom

“Wherever you go, go with all your Heart.” ~ Confucius

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt