Sed fugit interea, fugit irreparabile tempus,

"But sometimes time flies, flies irreparably"....VIRGIL

For anyone who has complained via email that I've not posted,anything new here in many months,  it's been due to my having to constantly reply to emails from yourself and others.  I'm not going to tell you to get a life.  I'm going to tell you thank you.  Each email from each of you has been powerful inspiration for me during the past months as I fought for my life.

Also, I've taken on new commitments that involve my time.  Afterall, it's all about the kids, isn't it?

Enough about me.  Let's discuss something important.

Immortality is yours for the taking, giving & sharing. 

Religions have fairly well made an industry out of selling immortality to those too busy, lazy or intellectually incapable of seeking it in a universal all encompassing form.  Some religions actually preach there are a limited number of seats for immortality and in order to be on the 'guest list', you must adhere to their beliefs.  Some espouse that the only way to attain immortality is to accept the founder of their faith as your own savior.  Do you remember the Heaven's Gate people who committed mass suicide in order to venture from Earth up to a great space ship in the sky where they would become immortal? 

Cynicism is my forte.  I can remember at age six being exposed to churches for the first time and knowing it was a hoax. Yes, at that age I instinctively knew they had it all wrong.  Needless to say it made for memorable childhood episodes with my grandparents the summers I visited them.  By the time I was thirteen they'd quit attempting to bring me into the fold, or they became exasperated with me and my questions they weren't capable of answering about their own beliefs.

Reading all philosophers, both religious and secular, provided me background and strong points of reference in my search for assigning a meaning to what happens to us all after death.   After so many years it was only a matter of boiling down the matter of Immortality to it's pure essence.  Someone did it best 2,100 years before me.

"Let no one cry, mourn or celebrate my funeral ;
For I am yet still alive, 

Passing back and forth on the voices of men."

epitaph of  QUINTUS ENNIUS, age 70, in the year 169 B.C. 

As testament to his immortality, the written works of Quintus Ennius would be completely lost to us in the 21st century had he not been quoted by so many literate Romans over the next 400 years.  He was right.  He remained alive because men spoke his words and name so long he's indeed alive after 2,200 years.  That qualifies as Immortality, doesn't it?

Immortality, by the definition of Quintus Ennius, is wholly achievable within the context of Seventh Generation Thinking.  Not only is such a definition of Immortality realistic, it is already yours for the making.  

Should you follow the law of the Iroquois in honor of the Seventh Generation it is assured you'll be remembered well and honored long after you have passed.  The Seventh Generation will be grateful for "our consideration in every deliberation... for our skin as thick as the bark of pine... and for asking of ourselves what they will have after us, because we deliberately provided for them."

Living an exemplary life, leaving a vital legacy of problems solved in your lifetime rather than negligently passed on to all who come after you and challenging others to do the same, but not follow you should be enough to be remembered so long your name and deeds will become Immortal.

The prospect of heaven, as defined by those who ardently believe in it and its God seems a bit less inviting that following the example of Quintus Ennius.  I'm not sure I'd mix well with a God who jubilantly accepts men who wear explosive belts in order to slaughter masses of people.  The entire concept that he might reward those men each with seventy virgins and unlimited wine makes me believe he needs my help more than I need his.

Don't just sit there.  You have work to do.  So do I.

Be Good.

Teach Good. 

 

email: exitnextright@fmail.co.uk 

And a contribution from a reader.