What is the deal with all of this "Live like you're dying" crap? There's songs about it by the likes of Tim McGraw, Lenka and Kris Allen. There's books about it. Church movements, campaigns, sermons, series and bible studies. It's never ending!
I get the jest of it. I get the point -you never know if you'll be here tomorrow so make sure you do and say the things you need to today. Sure, ok, sounds good on the surface, right? But I have an issue with it.
What kind of person has an issue with a concept as simple as that? As pure as getting the most out of your life? The kind of person like me, I guess.
Why do we have to pretend we're dying to show kindness to others? Why do we have to imagine that we're on our death bed to offer forgiveness to other people or to seek forgiveness for ourselves? Why is it that we need the imaginary threat of imminent death to be the kind of people we need to be??
Shouldn't we live like we're living? If we live like we're living then we should still be kind to others and do the things on our bucket or life lists. We should still offer and seek forgiveness and not hold grudges. We should try to live our life to the fullest and make sure that our affairs are in order. We should live our lives in the place they need to be.
Why do we need to be dying to be decent human beings? Isn't there something wrong with that concept? And I want to question the sincerity of it all - if you can't be a kind, decent, moral human being without the threat of death then is it really sincere?? Or is it fear?
"If I wasn't dying I'd be a different person."
"Before I was dying I was a mean/rude/judgmental/vengeful person."
I suppose if you absolutely NEED that incentive to be a good person, then here ya go: You're dying. We're all dying. It's called the circle of life. You don't need to imagine that you have cancer or heart disease or, I dunno, scurvy because we're all gonna die. So live like a nice person. Forgive, move on, be kind, don't judge, etc.
Oh, and P.S.? Garth Brooks brought this up way before any of the rest of them.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
12 comments:
I heart Garth.
And most of us have the default setting of procrastinate. So others want to help remind us that our time here on earth is finite and we might just want to get up off that couch and cross something off the bucket list. Unless your bucket list includes watching 1,000 continuous hours of HGTV or something. Then stay there.
I don't have a bucket list and I don't try to live like I'm dying. Why? Because all those things that could be on my bucket list, well, I couldn't afford to do them anyhow therefor I don't.
AMEN!
even more deep thoughts! wow! you are on a roll! those pregnancy hormones must be doing a doozy on your heart these days! :)
I love the songs about living like your dying mostly because it just makes me to think to not just exist but to live each day as if I did not have another, not wasting one of the days that God has gifted me with. but I understand your point that we should be thinking that living that way is truly living and not dying. :) So let's live like we are truly living!!! :)
I guess when death is eminent, you speed up the goodness:-)
Are you knocking my boy Kris Allen? LOL my kids love that song. I think it just gets you really thinking...I agree with your thoughts though...we are all going to die...so we should take the high road. Why is that so hard? Hmmmm
I just love the way you think! Great perspective on this!
Hmmm...I've only heard part of the Tim McGraw song, Heidi...I've never heard Kris Allen's song, and I haven't even a clue who Lenka is!
I've been thinking about what you said here, though, and I don't think the "live like you were dying" songs mean that we should pretend we're dying or imagine we're on our deathbeds to try to evoke feelings of forgiveness, kindness, and non-judgmental attitudes. I think it's just a saying...a play on words.
A couple of my close friends have died over the past few years, and very dear friends/neighbors of ours just lost their 5 year-old son to cancer. What I witnessed first-hand with all of them was this: Those who knew death was close had an entirely different attitude about life than we can really grasp or understand. It's almost as if they (even the little boy) were looking at life through different eyes....perhaps with a heavenly perspective?
Every detail, every aspect of their lives took on a crystal clarity for them. Not that they were dwelling on dying or thinking about it all the time...to the contrary! They made sure they were spending what time they had left on earth LIVING every moment to its fullest, and LOVING all the people in their lives.
They didn't talk about forgiveness or making amends with people, they just did it...they loved and appreciated everyone they knew...they didn't dwell on the "what ifs" of their lives...they really didn't really talk about death much at all. I witnessed a few tears, but mostly a lot of laughter, love, and LIFE.
Like you said, we're all going to die. That's a given. But, most of us don't know when we're going to die. Most of us will have many years on this earth...I guess we take that for granted, sometimes. We get so caught up and worked up over little things.
There are times when I fuss and fume for days over something that's sooo petty and insignificant. I stomp around, growling at everybody. I sulk. Finally, I realize what I'm doing and ask, "In the grand scheme of life, does this really matter?" Or, "Is this eternal?" I eventually come to my senses, then have to find everyone to make amends.
I believe people who know they are dying just realize they don't have any time to waste on trivial things. They're too busy living each moment with all the kindness, joy, and love they can cram into every last second.
So, in my opinion, I think this is what the "live like you were dying" songs mean. :-)
Big hugs,
Beth
P.S. I hope you won't have too many more "deep" posts...you're making me think too hard. I think I've pulled a muscle! lol
Country music is always full of songs that have real-life stories like about cheatin & drinkin & lovin & stuff like that, I guess they must have ran out of topics and went on to that. I dont like that attitude(live for today), it gives you the excuse to do what you want and the heck with the consequences. You will be bad, you will pay in the end, BRO.
Hmmm....sounds just like the discussions we've had about religion. Why does someone need to believe in a god or a religion to be a good, kind, decent, moral person. Doesn't it? Come on, you remember those days, right?
I don't think we can "live like we're dying" on a prolonged basis. When you know the end is near there's adrenaline and a need to accomplish everything you can in the finite amount of time you've got left. But that type of behavior can't be maintained for years on end. Yeah, we should all be good people and I like to think that I usually try, but we are human and we have frustrations and annoyances and everyday life things to deal with. I was just posting about this on a board yesterday - after my dh's accident, we did live like this. For weeks. Life was great, the sun came up every day, nothing could bother us. But life intrudes and your general nature takes over.
I do think we should all continue to try to be good people and maybe that's what these songs are saying (not really my style of music so I haven't heard the songs). But I do kind of think the dying thing is a little overwrought.
Excellent point! I do think, however, that we need to realize we aren't invincible. For me, until I was in my late 20's, I didn't realize the pain and suffering and death that are so common.
Great point.....but Tims song has always spoke to me....but then I love Tim McGraw..Ha
Doing a little Sunday morning blog hopping...Its snowing here.
I have 2 GREAT GIVEAWAYS that I will draw for tonight ...
stop by and leave a comment...That's all that's needed.
Teresa
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment