always ready

What would life be like if we were always ready to die?

If wisdom is at all to be desired, then regular, if not frequent, consideration of the natural way of things is most salutary. “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth” (Ecclesiastes 7:4). It is, however, possible that wisdom is not all it’s cracked up to be, and ignorance really is bliss. As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Plato says that the unexamined life is not worth living. But what if the examined life turns out to be [worthless] as well?”

Assuming that there is some value to wisdom, what does it mean to “be ready” to die?

At the practical level, it entails the useful achievement of having one’s affairs in order—last will and testament, etc.

At the earthly level, it involves, on the production side, the filling out of one’s curriculum vitae, the inspiring and impressive list of one’s accomplishments and contributions to one’s community and to the world, and, on the consumption side, the completion of one’s “bucket list” or simply the enjoyment of as many of the good things life has to offer as is possible. Nothing wrong with the excessive production or moderate (socially and environmentally conscious) consumption of goodness and beauty.

Of course, our ultimate value as human beings is not determined by our accomplishments—though from those to whom much (talent, resources, etc.) has been given much is required (often in humble, obscure service, without recognition).

At the spiritual level, to be ready to die is more of a frame of mind or orientation of the heart.

Although present “in the house of mourning” it is an orientation not consumed by sorrow or lament or penitence, but rather one founded on hope—the hope, made sure by the Resurrection, that evil will ultimately be overcome by good and that out of the ashes of horrific pain and atrocity, new and abiding life will spring forth.

Thus, to be ready to die is in fact to truly live.

It is to make the most of what we have right now;

To take whatever good we have received and use it to bless others;

To lose ourselves in the flow of creativity and love;

To live in freedom from fear, bitterness, hatred, self-pity, and shame;

To dance, like David (2 Samuel 6:14–16), unselfconsciously before the Lord.

In a word, it is to heed the exhortation of Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice,” and to taste the promise of Jesus’ words, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

Perhaps the question hits a bit differently now: What would life be like if we were always ready to die?