As one more year ends and gives way to the next, I am thinking more about the fading year and less about the one that stares me in the face. I do that conscious of the fact that the logical expectation is for me or anyone to forget about the past and wait to embrace the future and all it brings. However, my education and life experience preclude me from doing that. Every student of history or behavioral sciences understands that knowledge of the past is crucial for shaping the present and the future. But this time is different. I am not trying to shape a future that I cannot yet see. Nor could I hold the future in my hands even if I could see it. In these matters, the only task I can self-assign and execute is to prepare myself for that uncertain future whose unseeable face reminds me of some of life’s realities, among which is my mortality and that of everyone else.
The opportunity to witness the curtain come down slowly on another year is a blessing that I have never taken for granted for as long as I have known the meaning of life – and living. Yet, now I wonder how much I really know about life and what it really means to live. Do I know those realities beyond their conceptual frames or do I just think I know? Wouldn’t claiming that I know what they truly mean cast me as an arrogant egghead when in fact I can also make a sincere argument that life and living cannot really mean the same things to everybody? What if I believe that life is about meaning-making and that I therefore live to make meaning of my life so that I would not be anonymous when the bell tolls for me? Could I then assume that that is what everyone believes, or should believe, and that those who believe differently are in error? Certainly not. In my opinion, it is indeed the case that life and living mean different things to different people, which is why in many areas of life we can often choose how we live though we cannot choose who we are or how our natural end will come.
Since I am not an island, I am conscious of the fact that my beliefs about life and living are shaped by the sum of my personal experiences, which would include my interactions with others. My beliefs are my own and it is not incumbent on me to define the experiences and beliefs of others, nor would I even if I could. However, the fact is not lost on me that my actions influence others as theirs also influence me. Therefore, as a new year approaches, I am inclined to think of how the experiences of others and mine have influenced my current thinking about life and living. I have come to a much greater realization that, for most of us, a discussion of life and living cannot be complete without mention of death and an acknowledgment that life and death are not only two sides of the same coin but also that the line between living and dying is thinner than we often realize as we go about our daily business.
To that extent, it seems to me that the question is not where living ends and where dying begins, but whether they coexist. If we can believe that they do coexist, we might then begin to understand, even if we cannot get ourselves to embrace the scenario that we now see increasingly in our world – one in which a seemingly healthy person dies suddenly to the shock of everyone who knew him/her. We might also learn to take everyday that we wake up as if it could be the last day of our lives. We might in fact begin to treat one another better because, everytime we meet or speak may be the last time we will ever speak to or see each other alive.
What if we never meet again?
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This particular ruminations if nothing else must have set minds escalating like the pendulum of the Big Ben of Europe . Yes, “what if we never meet again” ? ,and so what? The swamp crocodile may ask but kindly let me recall my statement in Japan in 1989when in my farewell speech to my fellow participants when I said well what if we don’t meet again, this parting of ways was well made. It drew tears. You have retroactively and proactively said all that need to be said. Play your part, live well, define your space, note that you are not an island bearing in mind that one day, some day it will not be What if we don’t meet again, but we will not meet again. Excellent thinking Ohiro
This is remarkable. I am glad that I was able to bring back I memory whose creation I did not witness. Your response, sir, reminds me of why I write. I am humbled.
Correction
We don’t have control over……..love differently.
Thank you.
Ohiro thanks for this inspirational and thought provoking piece. Yes, if we all agree that life and death coexist and that we do have control over how we end our journey here on earth we will better be guided by the way we treat others nowithstanding if they look different from us or worship differently and/or love differently. One point that we should always remember is what legacy do we leave behind and how do we want to be remembered for after our journey in the world is over?
Certainly, Dr. Unufegan, that is the point. We must strive to live in understanding of the reality that we share the world with others who are more like us than they are different. Otherwise, we lose sight of the fact that we actually hurt ourselves and defeat our purpose for living when we reject the humanity and dignity of others.
This is such a beautiful piece of creative, well thought out write up. People do not like to hear or talk about death……… We crave for immortality, we want to be translated like Elijah or Enoch, but are we walking with GOD?
Whither death or translation, the question must not be left unanswered in our hearts:
WHAT IF WE NEVER MEET AGAIN?
Thanks my BROTHER.
Your comment reminds me of Bob Marley’s song in which he said that “Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die”. Yet, we are not in control.
Very insightful. Makes the reader think and become human.
Thanks for recognizing that which we strive for as writers.