I think if life is finite it does inherently have more purpose than if its eternal. Assuming there is nothing after the end does lend much more weight to the time we are given. I do think its possible to live life with that level of intention with hope for the beyond. Its an unknowable thing. The irony being that you can't know until after you die. In which case, you cease to exist, or there is something more. Either way, I think there is wisdom in living life as fully as one can muster. For me, while I respect the reality of death, I think its a servant not a master. I believe that someone long ago conquered death. It still has its role to play, but it does so in the equality frame you described. It has no will, it has no discretion, it does as its told. By the master, the King. I think the efforts of every good life deserve that arrangement. Given what life can be, I think death is a mere spectator, relegated to a final, important task that it must perform endlessly, forever. Death, is the real loser here. It doesn't get a life, and from my view, it never even gets to end any.......
Also, I owe you an apology, for coming to your house and beating you at Risk. I know that hurt your pride, and I’m a sore winner, which probably didn’t help. But seriously, you crushed this comment. Thoughtful, beautifully written. Honestly… you should start a Substack. You’d be good at it.
Genesis 3:19 (KJV): “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Or as Denzel Washington said in The Book of Eli (paraphrasing scripture): “Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, and to the dust we shall return.”
I grew up in the church, raised Christian, hard roots. We were there multiple times a week. But for me, there was no fallout. No drama. No anger toward God. Life just… peeled something back. Lifted a veil. And that part of me quietly slipped away, never really to return.
There’s still a part of me that hopes you’re right. That there is something more after this. But I’ve come to believe this is it, just one shot at it, one long walk under the sun. If something waits on the other side, I don’t worry about judgment based on checklists or man made rules.
What matters to me is whether I was a good father. A good husband. A good friend. If that doesn’t earn a place in whatever comes next, then I guess I’ll take my place in one of the seven layers.
But for you, I know your faith is real. It’s a cornerstone. It gives you purpose and clarity. And I admire the hell out of that. You know I’ll always support your belief and anyone’s, so long as it’s not harming themselves or others.
Here’s one of my favorites too (even if it’s a favorite for many). Revelation 21:4 (ESV): “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Thanks again for reading, brother. Always grateful to hear your voice in the mix.
We'll have to up the ante and have a poker challenge.
"What matters to me is whether I was a good father. A good husband. A good friend. If that doesn’t earn a place in whatever comes next, then I guess I’ll take my place in one of the seven layers."
This resonates with me. I have hope for many things, but one of the foremost in my mind is that I have underestimated God's mercy.
I like to think that everyone will have a face to face with their Creator after death.
Heck, maybe death is the guy who brings you there so he can see first hand how powerless he really is :)
Thank you so much for reading and for taking the time to revisit it more than once. That means a lot to me.
The fact that the mix of story, culture, and reflection came through and resonated… that’s something I really hoped for when writing this. I’m grateful it reached you, and I truly appreciate you being here.🏴☠️
I think if life is finite it does inherently have more purpose than if its eternal. Assuming there is nothing after the end does lend much more weight to the time we are given. I do think its possible to live life with that level of intention with hope for the beyond. Its an unknowable thing. The irony being that you can't know until after you die. In which case, you cease to exist, or there is something more. Either way, I think there is wisdom in living life as fully as one can muster. For me, while I respect the reality of death, I think its a servant not a master. I believe that someone long ago conquered death. It still has its role to play, but it does so in the equality frame you described. It has no will, it has no discretion, it does as its told. By the master, the King. I think the efforts of every good life deserve that arrangement. Given what life can be, I think death is a mere spectator, relegated to a final, important task that it must perform endlessly, forever. Death, is the real loser here. It doesn't get a life, and from my view, it never even gets to end any.......
Well said, my dude.
Also, I owe you an apology, for coming to your house and beating you at Risk. I know that hurt your pride, and I’m a sore winner, which probably didn’t help. But seriously, you crushed this comment. Thoughtful, beautifully written. Honestly… you should start a Substack. You’d be good at it.
Genesis 3:19 (KJV): “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Or as Denzel Washington said in The Book of Eli (paraphrasing scripture): “Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, and to the dust we shall return.”
I grew up in the church, raised Christian, hard roots. We were there multiple times a week. But for me, there was no fallout. No drama. No anger toward God. Life just… peeled something back. Lifted a veil. And that part of me quietly slipped away, never really to return.
There’s still a part of me that hopes you’re right. That there is something more after this. But I’ve come to believe this is it, just one shot at it, one long walk under the sun. If something waits on the other side, I don’t worry about judgment based on checklists or man made rules.
What matters to me is whether I was a good father. A good husband. A good friend. If that doesn’t earn a place in whatever comes next, then I guess I’ll take my place in one of the seven layers.
But for you, I know your faith is real. It’s a cornerstone. It gives you purpose and clarity. And I admire the hell out of that. You know I’ll always support your belief and anyone’s, so long as it’s not harming themselves or others.
Here’s one of my favorites too (even if it’s a favorite for many). Revelation 21:4 (ESV): “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Thanks again for reading, brother. Always grateful to hear your voice in the mix.
We'll have to up the ante and have a poker challenge.
"What matters to me is whether I was a good father. A good husband. A good friend. If that doesn’t earn a place in whatever comes next, then I guess I’ll take my place in one of the seven layers."
This resonates with me. I have hope for many things, but one of the foremost in my mind is that I have underestimated God's mercy.
I like to think that everyone will have a face to face with their Creator after death.
Heck, maybe death is the guy who brings you there so he can see first hand how powerless he really is :)
I, for one, want more of the book in any form you’re comfortable with
You’ll definitely get the draft and be one of the first to read it before it hopefully hits the shelves! 🏴☠️
Thank you so much for reading and for taking the time to revisit it more than once. That means a lot to me.
The fact that the mix of story, culture, and reflection came through and resonated… that’s something I really hoped for when writing this. I’m grateful it reached you, and I truly appreciate you being here.🏴☠️