Death in the Apocalypse
by C. Henry Martens
What is a person’s life worth? What are you worth? Insurance companies can tell you, but they avoid placing dollar figures unless confronted by a massive law suit. It is seen as politically incorrect by those being valued. We aren’t speaking of value in this world, though, are we? No, we are speaking of the world in the aftermath of a cataclysmic event.
A world torn apart… with no nation to recognize rights, much less protect them. A place with no society, except what is expedient for small groups to form, and only then with the intent of enforcing their own survival. Maybe even a world with so few people that it could be difficult to find another human being.
In such a world, life has lost value. The single best source of worth is yourself and what you are prepared to do to survive.
It cracks me up when I hear people discuss intense desires. I have heard many bemoan the fact that they aren’t rich. That they aren’t famous. That they don’t have the means, the resources, the talent. If you ask them what they are willing to do to become… whatever… they have a ready and universal answer. “Anything.”
But the girl who is desirous of being the best singer in the world may be tone deaf and is listening to people inflate her ego with lies. She actively avoids confronting reality and won’t ask someone knowledgeable and kind enough to be brutally honest. Doesn’t happen? Watch the first episode of any season of American Idol.
The guy who has that insatiable desire for wealth spends his small income on lottery tickets and junk food while sitting in a dark room playing video games instead of socking away a small amount by living frugally until he has found something to invest in and practice sweat equity. People believe the wrong things… or they are unfocused, and then they fail to do what they claim, “anything.”
Talent, fame, and wealth take effort, and they usually don’t fall in a person’s lap. And even with hard effort, many will make mistakes along the way, mostly due to loss of focus. There are just no guarantees in life.
What makes you think that an apocalyptic world will be any different? If you have made it this far, more than likely it was by luck and the skin of your teeth. It will take effort, imagination, and versatility to survive in a world where you are looked at as competition for the next meal, or even AS the next meal. Most importantly, it will take effort. To that end, I submit to you that luck is nothing except well managed effort. Knowing when to duck and run is as important as knowing when to take advantage of circumstance. Knowing when and how to bluff with a good story to back up your play is invaluable.
I have a view of life… and death… that is not well accepted in this world confused by fairness and an overabundance of concern for saving everyone from the inevitable. I accept death as a coming event and even attractive in the right circumstances. I know that all living things die. I embrace that. Is there a reason to be frightened of death? Well, maybe… if religions are right. But short of a momentary lapse in focus or a sudden unexpected epiphany, I expect to meet death with a Viking war cry on my lips. It is the last great adventure.
So the way I see it, death is a personal experience to be embraced with excitement. If you are one of the lucky few surviving… and then not… an apocalypse, then even more so.
Might as well enjoy.
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www.readmota.com
What is a person’s life worth? What are you worth? Insurance companies can tell you, but they avoid placing dollar figures unless confronted by a massive law suit. It is seen as politically incorrect by those being valued. We aren’t speaking of value in this world, though, are we? No, we are speaking of the world in the aftermath of a cataclysmic event.
A world torn apart… with no nation to recognize rights, much less protect them. A place with no society, except what is expedient for small groups to form, and only then with the intent of enforcing their own survival. Maybe even a world with so few people that it could be difficult to find another human being.
In such a world, life has lost value. The single best source of worth is yourself and what you are prepared to do to survive.
It cracks me up when I hear people discuss intense desires. I have heard many bemoan the fact that they aren’t rich. That they aren’t famous. That they don’t have the means, the resources, the talent. If you ask them what they are willing to do to become… whatever… they have a ready and universal answer. “Anything.”
But the girl who is desirous of being the best singer in the world may be tone deaf and is listening to people inflate her ego with lies. She actively avoids confronting reality and won’t ask someone knowledgeable and kind enough to be brutally honest. Doesn’t happen? Watch the first episode of any season of American Idol.
The guy who has that insatiable desire for wealth spends his small income on lottery tickets and junk food while sitting in a dark room playing video games instead of socking away a small amount by living frugally until he has found something to invest in and practice sweat equity. People believe the wrong things… or they are unfocused, and then they fail to do what they claim, “anything.”
Talent, fame, and wealth take effort, and they usually don’t fall in a person’s lap. And even with hard effort, many will make mistakes along the way, mostly due to loss of focus. There are just no guarantees in life.
What makes you think that an apocalyptic world will be any different? If you have made it this far, more than likely it was by luck and the skin of your teeth. It will take effort, imagination, and versatility to survive in a world where you are looked at as competition for the next meal, or even AS the next meal. Most importantly, it will take effort. To that end, I submit to you that luck is nothing except well managed effort. Knowing when to duck and run is as important as knowing when to take advantage of circumstance. Knowing when and how to bluff with a good story to back up your play is invaluable.
I have a view of life… and death… that is not well accepted in this world confused by fairness and an overabundance of concern for saving everyone from the inevitable. I accept death as a coming event and even attractive in the right circumstances. I know that all living things die. I embrace that. Is there a reason to be frightened of death? Well, maybe… if religions are right. But short of a momentary lapse in focus or a sudden unexpected epiphany, I expect to meet death with a Viking war cry on my lips. It is the last great adventure.
So the way I see it, death is a personal experience to be embraced with excitement. If you are one of the lucky few surviving… and then not… an apocalypse, then even more so.
Might as well enjoy.
Sign up to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
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