What if it is too late
I've been struggling all day to put down some words, dealing with a delicate bit of writing where I'm not completely convinced I know what I'm talking about. It should probably happen more often. Also, niggling at the edges of my mind have been some sad thoughts about the possibility that all the ranting in the world about global warming, environmental carnage, blah blah blah may just be a waste of time at this point. Maybe we're fucked. Just as no single life lasts forever, no species does either. Maybe we've had our run. Maybe we shouldn't even be that upset about this. It's been a jolly good time. We're the only animal on this planet to ever have been aware of ourselves (and this might just have been our Shakespearean tragic flaw). We've done some great stuff, understood more than any other being in the history of life. It does feel slightly awkward that we've probably done ourselves in -- no asteroid impact to blot out the sun, no ice age, no unbeatable predator, just a bit of stupidity, perhaps, some laziness, a too-well-developed desire for comfort and pleasure and most of all short-sightedness. But maybe our sight is supposed to be short. Maybe it all just seems a bit unreal and unpleasant because, unlike any other beast that has arisen over the past few millenia on Earth, we're the only critters who understand that after we're all gone, something different will happen. Without us. We hate to miss a good show, is all. We've made a mess of things, but once we're out of the way the mess will slowly heal. So then it all reverts back to the old question. If you knew you only had a year to live, how would you live the year? With us, it's more like a generation (probably two or three more before we're all gone, but our kids will be the last bunch who will be able to carry on much like we have if that's what they choose to do). But it's the same question. Assuming we are doomed, what should we tell our kids? It's a strange question, I know. One way we deal with death is by reminding each other that the departed loved one will live on in our memories. You're not really gone until everyone who knew you is gone. But if we're all gone then we're all really gone. Different feeling. No solace. No comfort. Just real gone.
It sure takes off some pressure.
Wish I could convince myself.
It sure takes off some pressure.
Wish I could convince myself.
posted by Colin at 4:41 PM
2 Comments:
I think you've nailed it. I've asked before if the ants that are running around in the sand stop to ponder on their use of the sandpile. Do they spend the time they are given wondering about their demise? Do they wonder about the coming doom? Do they fear the water hose flooding their home?
Why do we think we will be any different then the dinosaur or any other spiecies whom have become extinct? Why are we so arrogant as to believe that we are the only spiecies whom can think? We no naught.
This thinking that Earth will live forever and sustain life is akin to growing old. We can add layers of makeup. We can dye our hair, we can exercise more, eat less, have surgery and do a whole lot of repair and pretending. We can spout off about 50 being the new 40 and we can say things like (we're only as old as we feel) or (age is just a number)...truth is we are getting old and just like a car or a toaster or a ant we become junk and then we hit the old bone pile. The Earth is aging right along with us.
Here is a piece I wrote for Kyra's contest. I guess we are all thinking about the EARTH lately.
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"The Key to Life is Death"
(After 40 everything went downhill)
The jowl line loosened and dropped. Gums shrunk and teeth began to rot, loosen and fall out. Under arms and other parts of the body became a work of flab. Skin color began to fad. Wrinkles became too many to hide...and soon that old gal up and died.
HER NAME WAS EARTH...The key to a successful life is accepting death.
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And maybe I simply feel this way now because of my Mother dying. Maybe I'm just a fatalist that's full of BS.
xxxJolie
Maybe Earth is getting old too.?
Maybe this new planet that has been found will be the new earth. Maybe some of us will go there and start again or maybe it will be a world that's left to the cockroaches and the rats.
Thing is...we are human and it is our nature to fight for life. We think we are different..somehow more special, more intelligent and more worthy to live on. So we will try to save our Earth until we die...EVEN IF, we might have a better ending if we simply lived happily with acceptance and smiled when it came. That young man in your other post may be way ahead of our game.
And yet:
Would you stay in a burning house? Would you stand in front of a moving train? Would you allow your kids to do it?
I suggest that no matter the end...most of us will fight for life.
Do ants go to heaven?
xxxJolie
I do wonder if these thoughts are a natural pondering of us older folks. And of course the future really does lie in the hands of the next generation. And do we have so little faith in the legacy we have left? I hold to the what will be will be philosophy but also put much faith in Mother Nature. She will cull the herd as needed...
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