Young Writers Group discussion

Advancements in science have not made any human immortal so far. It has improved quality of life but has not conquered death. Until science succeeds in giving humans immortality, it is safe to assume that we will all die—a rather irrefutable and undeniable reality.

What happens after our death? Do we just disappear and that’s the end of it? Do we get called upon by God in His proximity, and are we made to defend our actions?

Answers to these questions really define who we are and how we behave before our death. If you truly believe there is indeed a life after death—that you will be rewarded for your good deeds and punished for bad ones; that such rewards or punishments will be permanent and everlasting; and that there is no escaping this day of accountability—then you would prefer to walk the path of righteous people. On the other hand, if your answer is that life ends here at the time of your death then you would behave differently.

Whether we like it or not, we are all walking towards our destined inevitable end. Day by day we are getting closer to the finish line of life. We starting walking towards the finish line on the day we are born. Some get to the finish line faster, some slower, some earlier, and some later, but eventually we all get there. Some get to the finish line rich, some not so rich, and some poor, but eventually we all get to the finish line. As I looked at the tsunami in Japan that swept away ships, cars, trucks, people, and houses, I could not help but think how unpredictable all of life is. People left their homes with plans for the day, and by the day’s end, thousands of people disappeared together with their plans. We never realize how close or far we are from the finish line, and I guess that is the beauty of the whole process. Deep down we hope we are as far as possible. Some actually live as if there is not going to be a finish line ever, yet it always comes.

It does not matter how soon or late I get to the finish line of my life; I will eventually get there. What matters is that I need to be prepared for it. It is also clear that it will not matter if I get to the finish line rich or poor. Death is the greatest equalizer of all time. It gets everyone, rich, poor, black, white, small, big, fat, skinny, wise, foolish. No one is spared. It does not matter in what state I get to the finish line. To me what matters is the things I am doing or will be doing before I get to the finish line. I also believe that approaching the finish line of my life will mark the beginning of another era—a life with no end, no finish line.

In Sudan in 1993, an award-winning photographer took picture of a dying girl with a vulture waiting on her side to devour her corpse. The picture won a Pulitzer award, which I understand is a very big honour for a photographer. The girl was on the verge of her death due to famine and disease, and the vulture was waiting to pounce on her. I looked at that picture and could not help but think, What did this child do to be there? Why was she there and not me or you? You and I are lucky to be born in better-managed countries, and this poor child was unfortunate enough to be born in a famine-struck and poorly managed country. How will this child ever get justice? How can a God who is supposedly fair compensate this child?

I cannot help but believe that at the finish line of life, the less-privileged ones will be the ultimate winners. God is an intelligent and logical entity. Logic dictates that things have to be balanced out in the end, as would be expected from an intelligent and logical God. Someone who was given meagre resources through no fault of his own should be judged on how he handled his worldly affairs based on his meagre resources. Similarly someone who was given privileges without any effort on his part will be judged on how he used his abundant resources. An underprivileged person who spends his entire life on the right path fighting corruption and roadblocks created by the privileged class ought to have things balanced out on the day of judgment. Similarly privileged people who spend their time abusing their positions against the less-privileged ones ought to have things balanced out as well. If there was any other way then God will not be fair. The underprivileged are tested by meagre resources at their disposal and hardships in life. The privileged ones are tested by abundant resources at their disposal and leisure in life. Both are walking towards the finish line day by day. Both will get there, and no one will be spared. At the finish line, the fortunes will most likely reverse to balance things out, logically speaking.

Every time I see an underprivileged man struggling, I am forced to think that in few years, our fortunes will be reversed. People with resources beyond their needs ought to be questioned, and I am sure they will be. I strongly believe the underprivileged of the world will have the last laugh, and this makes me tremble in fear.

***

I found this very interesting. Nicely done!

Thank you

Nov13670 wrote: "I found this very interesting. Nicely done!"

Me too.