Facing Death to Live

For my Writing Foundations class I am reading Tuesdays with Morrie written by Mitch Albom. It makes you think. It really does. Much like the book The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

So enlightening. So . . . It is hard to explain without reading it. But it seems to me that those close to death are more full of life, wisdom, inspiration, and cheer. Those who have lived a long life have so much wisdom they can impart to us before they leave us. We just have to listen.

Reading this book, Tuesdays with Morrie is insightful. It hit on some major principles that all humankind should know abut. It amazes me at how those people who never did know much about the Gospel while they lived here, were so close to the truth as they marched on closer to death. I wish that someone would do the work for them. I honestly think they would accept it. But they brought so many people perhaps a step closer to the Truth. We each have a calling here on earth.

As I read, I learned that even though I know a bit about life and living and the Eternities, I still lose sight of how I could and should be living my life day-by-day, hour-by-hour, and minute-by-minute. It's always much easier to imagine that "in the future, I'll be doing . . . " Or "I'll be . . . " But we have to realize that we won't become who we want to become in the future if we aren't who we want to be today and if we are not working on it throughout the day that we are living in.

"Learn how to die, and you learn how to live." So says Morrie. Once you realize that today could be your last day, all the sudden life becomes so much more in just the simplest of things. You enjoy every minute of the day. You enjoy your trials. You enjoy the family and friends in your life. Or you realize that what you have been working towards throughout your entire life is not important at all.

"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, 'Love each other or perish.' " Family. Such an important thing. Morrie hit it right on the nose. That is the foundation of Heavenly Father's plan. That is our first foundation of defense. Family.

" 'You know what what really gives you satisfaction?'
"What?
" 'Offering others what you have to give.' "

Service. That is what truly makes a person happy. True Charity. Not just giving money to people on the streets, but actual real service. Really knowing the person. Really giving ALL you have to someone. And perhaps not your material things, but your time, effort, love, joy, knowledge, and wisdom. It is hard to find satisfaction in getting and taking. But giving? That's something else.

" 'I believe in being fully present,' Morrie said. 'That means you should be with the person you're with.' "

"But really listening to someone - without trying to sell them something, pick them up, recruit them, or get some kind of status in return - how often do we get this anymore?"

This is something we don't give to people much. We are too concerned with the future. With what we want. With what we need. With what needs to be done. But in doing so we miss the life right in front of us. We could have made a difference. We could have bettered our selves. But we missed the opportunity.

"Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you."

We try to make the best investments and gain the best reward from it. One of the best things to invest in to gain the most reward is the human family. It's what we should all invest in. Imagine the profit we would gain from it.

These are lessons learned. Lessons to be applied. A lesson is not a true lesson if not ever put into relevance with our lives.

I love Life, but sometimes the best lessons learned of Life are derived from Death.

In any case, I recommend both The Last Lecture and Tuesdays with Morrie.