Non Omnis Moriar

Not all of me will die. 

Death

--one of the most beautiful experiences life has the opportunity to participate in. Surely our lack of knowledge on life beyond the grave would compel us to marvel at this mystery. Instead, death itself has become taboo. 

No one wants to talk about it, hear about it, let alone think on for even a moment. 

I find that strange. If death is indeed inevitable, wouldn't it be more productive to spend time acknowledging and even preparing for it? Or do you find it suitable to waste your time thinking on things that are of no use to your eternity?

Shame. 

Even modern Christianity has taken death and made it unbearable. We would much rather emphasize the importance of living instead of dying. I am completely aware of the results of ones passing. It has not escaped my mind nor will it ever. But I am worried that our devotion to life has brought us to forget that we once were devoted to death. Perhaps our most prime and influential example would be that of Christ, who we all seek to mimic. His life was brought to excellence through death, so that in turn our lives may be brought to excellence through his death. BUT, it doesn't stop there. Even the early Christians recognized that their lives were to be reflections of Christ's. Of course they took joy in the blessings of God, but simultaneously they took joy in the suffering. Not only their emotional suffering, but their physical suffering as well. You see, to them, it was a privilege to have the mark of death on their heads. To them it meant that their lives were purposed, and not only that, it meant that their lives were pleasing. They spent every moment preparing for that one instant, where their mortal eyes close and reopen in the light of Father. That was it for them; the reconciliation of servant to master. And if by their death a testimony of true salvation was born, then let it be. 

Perhaps it would do us some good to live as the martyrs. To speak as Polycarp did when he said "Father, I bless you that you have deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I might take a portion of the martyrs in the cup of Christ... Among these may I today be welcome before thy face as a rich and acceptable sacrifice."

Perhaps even, it would do us some good to see life in the same way they did: to live as unto death.