1 Death is not the end

"To ashes is man created, and to ashes shall man return"

A passage from the catholic bible

You may have often heard similar phrases like this a lot of times throughout your entire life. You might have heard it from your religion teacher that spouts this like a broken record, maybe it's from a mass that your local priest holds that your parents probably forced you to attend, or maybe even from the tv shows or movies that we've watched

One could interpret it in many ways, but In hindsight, it generally means that one must not be too complacent in the mortal realm. All things shall end one day, no matter who do you think you are, even the leader of the most successful empires or businesses would face their maker at some point.

So one should focus on self-discipline and prayer in order to get closer to god

Most people seem to agree that this is the case, It does seem like a reasonable interpretation after all

And as a rational thinking person of society, I am also inclined to believe It that way as well

However, there's another opinion that would always linger in my head. No matter how much I've convinced myself otherwise, it would always stay rooted deep in the shadows of my mind

'Was that really the message that God intended? To not get too attached to human life?'

It first started off as a wild thought, the kind of thought that one would have in the middle of the night, or while having a cool shower in the evening. Something that our brain just randomly came up with in order to appease the temporary boredom

But as time went on, it started to be more plausible to me...Was that really all that god meant?

Sure the catholic church was the one that supposedly recorded the phrase and Interpreted it, so the chances of it being otherwise are highly Improbable

But In the end, the servants of God that wrote this down are human. and humans are always liable to make mistakes, even humans guided by god can fail sometimes. I believe that Adam and Eve are prime examples of this, so maybe, just maybe, they may have overlooked some crucial meanings

These are the words of God after all, can we mere mortals truly comprehend the full meaning of it?

Though now that I think about it, I believe that the same could be applied to the entirety of the Catholic religion, I guess this is where faith comes in huh?

Back to what I was saying though...My mind could only reach a single conclusion; That It was probable that we might have overlooked something

But if that's the case...What was it? What's the other meaning that was Intended in that passage?

I remembered thinking about the answer that entire night...I ended up oversleeping and being late for school, but I still hadn't reached an answer...

Years passed and I graduated from both high school and college, but the thought was still stuck in my head

...Even after I pursued my dream of becoming a history teacher...Even after I married a woman and settled with her ...Even after we've had two kids...even after they graduated and had kids of their own...Even after my bones become as weak as a stick...

I still couldn't find an answer...Until only recently

"Huuuu...."

I could only breathe through the tube that was attached to the hole created in my neck. I find it to be pitiful, I was quite the energetic kid before, but now I'm an old sap that can't even live without the help of a machine

But weird as it may be, I'm somewhat thankful. Because of this pathetic state of mine, I was finally able to reach an answer

To ashes is man created, and to ashes shall man return...The passage was indeed telling us to not be too attached in the mortal realm, but that was not the whole meaning, It doesn't mean that one should only just be lazy and kind in one's life on earth. No, No, No,

I believe that God is telling us to work hard and strive to be better while knowing the fact that it will all end... No...Maybe he's telling us to work and strive hard because our lives will inevitably end one day? Maybe it's a sort of reminder that tells us that our time is limited and that we should make use of every second that we have

Fufu, at this rate I don't even know anymore...Maybe this is just the ramblings of a senile old fool that has reached the limits of his psyche

Ramblings of a timid coward who lived his life while burying his head under the sand. Desiring all things to remain the same, living a life of averageness, and dying without leaving a legacy in this world

I've heard a saying somewhere in the past that said that the value of one's life is dependent on the accomplishments that they've had

I used to think that such a thing was foolish...But thinking back on it now, that may be the case

What have I been living my life for? Due to my cowardness, I didn't really have that many friends in high school or college...Well, that didn't really mean that I was an outcast or anything, in fact, I think I got along with everyone pretty well...But I didn't really form a deep connection with anyone In particular...

My wife and my children were exceptions. But looking at their lives now, I'm positive that their lives would be just as uneventful and boring as mine...In the end, I believe that after they pass on, my name would be brushed off as nothing more than another unfortunate human that passed on to the other side...

And that thought...frightened me to the core...

Because it was when I realized that true death isn't your corporeal flesh breaking down...It's when the world has forgotten who you are, your entire existence, your entire legacy

I may have been a coward, but I truly wanted to be something great. I want to achieve the achievements that the revolutionary people in the past have done. Those people who have contributed something to the world, whose names are remembered even eons after their passing...Someone whose name would be engraved in the history to come...I mean, doesn't everybody?

"...Plea...see.."

My family wasn't aware of it at the moment so they aren't here. But right now I'm on the verge of death. I don't need the help of a doctor to confirm that the hands of death are already tapping me in the back

With all of the strength I could muster, I moved my arms to reach for the white ceilings above me. I've hated the white Interiors of my room ever since I was admitted here a few years ago, but not I'm used to it, I sometimes find it to be aesthetically pleasing even

"Cha...nce"

If the heavens are hearing me, then please give me one more chance. I won't keep my head down anymore and let my cowardice hold me back, I'll strive for only the greatest...so please...please

The beeping sound of my Vital monitors began to beep louder and louder, One of the nurses nearby Immediately noticed this, and with a panic expression, called a doctor

"No...Use..."

I meant to tell them that it was no use. Even if they did succeed in reviving me here, It's only a matter of time before I die naturally

As much as it pains my soul to leave my wife and children away, it's an inevitable thing that will happen to us all.

As my body gradually began to weaken, My eyes slowly began to close. And my consciousness faded into the darkness

But before I did so, I heard a clear voice from a distance

[Ask...and you shall receive]

On a peaceful evening on a Sunday night. The old man passed away peacefully with a smile on his face, his family grieved their losses but learned that they must move on at some point

The name of the man lived in the memories of his wife and children, but soon faded under the flow of time