Friday 25 January 2008

Born to Die

"And they lived happily ever after," so goes the typical final sentence of fairy tales. Everybody loves a happy ending. For it is the nature of human beings to want to live a life that is filled with joy and mirth. A blissful life, in human terms, is tied up to health, wealth and fame. Health is defined in the physical sense – longevity and immunity from sickness. Wealth connotes the state of having more than enough of material possessions. With fame comes recognition, if not adulation, from others.

By maintaining health, attaining wealth and achieving fame, an individual tends to be attached to the world, not wanting to let go of the good life. The idea of death then becomes unwelcome and dreadful. Yet as certain as a man is born, it is certain too for him to die. For in truth and in fact, we are born to die.

In a span of five years (1999 to 2004), I witnessed the death of three members in my family: my mother, my eldest brother and lastly my father. My mother, Milagros, had suffered a series of heart attacks before she final succumbed to ischemia. My brother, Angel III, at the age of 50 was taken by the Lord when he died likewise of ischemia. My father, Angel Jr., unsuccessfully battled cancer for less than a year from detection. Those were prayerful times, as they were difficult and heart-wrenching. It made me realize that as they had died, so will I. It is just a matter of time.

It should therefore be the objective of each and every individual to seek a happy ending. Christ Jesus, who knew beforehand of His death at the cross, promised us Salvation. "Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:15) It is life multiplied many times over the limited one that we experience in this earth.

Isaac Bashevis Singer pointed out: "Life is God’s novel. Let him write it". The Lord Almighty has made the outline of each one’s life story. With free will, we are given the chance to make it as worthy, as interesting and as meaningful as the life of His Only Son, Jesus Christ. He wants us to be good human beings and to have good stories to tell to Him.

"But the good man – what a different story! For the good man – the blameless, the upright, the man of peace – he has a wonderful future ahead of him. For him there is a happy ending." (Psalm 37:37)

by Mel Libre