Life, Death, and Eternity

[Brenus]

Difficult subject. Personal matters…
Join the army, jumped from planes, did usual things. Enjoy it.
I went in Charities, NGO, in three major conflicts.
I thought I couldn’t be touch. I didn’t expect death because I was sure to survive. I did enjoy the rush, the adrenaline.
I saved lives, went where no others dared to go, delivering food, medicaments, evacuating and helping the victims…
I saw the mountains falling on the black silhouettes running for covers, saw the orange light of a mortar shell, and heard the noise of the pieces of metal hitting the walls.
And one day, I heard nothing but I awake in a hospital with a broken jaw, arm and leg in slices, lost in a cloud of morphine.
I was dead during few days then awake/born again in a French Hospital to hear a surgeon telling me that I will keep my eye, my arm and my leg, that I had few operations and that they extract more that 300 alien parts from my body. And others operations will be needed…

And I enjoy life then. I rejoiced the feeling of the rain on my skin, telling me that I was alive… Every feeling, every sensations, every days were a gift.

I am now married, and tomorrow will be like yesterday. And I like it.
I will see the daughters of my Wife’s daughters and sons becoming my grand-daughters, and I like it.

Death will come. In French death is female, and she is the only one woman you can be sure she will come. She is waiting, faithfully.

I hope there is no return. Who wants to east the same (moderator will delete it, so I do it first).
I hope I will die with no pain.
It was too early, but when I was hit (Rocket or mortar), eating a saucisson (French sausage, quite special) with a nice glass of Bordeaux, it was perfect. I felt nothing. I was then I wasn’t. No fears, no pain, just the reverse of Pascal. Cogito ergo Sum. I think so I am.
I didn’t think so I was not any more.
The fact is I have no answer… I didn’t fear death during wars and bullets flying around because I was young and I was a Professional… Just a question technical and I believed in my Star.
I still don’t fear death because it is still an option still quite far.
But when last year we buried my mother, it come to her children that the next time we will gather for a funeral, it will be for one of us… Who’s next?

[Bijo]

If your story is true, Brenus, you are worthy of honour

[KafirChobee]

OK, so no one ever accused me of being the brightest bulb on the tree.
The question posed by me was meant not as a limiting factor to a normal life, but to look at the philosophy of eternity. Most of the responders have understood that, even though my wording maybe - is lacking.

Personally, if we knew for certain there was re-incarnation or an eternal life of some form after the death of our present form it might alter my perception of how to conduct my affairs. Maybe, but I've always treated others as I wished to be treated and have never harmed anyone that wasn't attempting to harm me (or those I cared for). So, what could I change that would alter the results of my future entrance into the mystery of after my demise that would change the affect once there? [Not for discussion, just a footnote - OK]

As for my name living forever? Haven't been concerned with such an abstract since I was maybe 8 or 9 sitting in a history class. It's a moot point for me. In a hundred years I seriously doubt even Paris Hilton will be remembered - unless she assassinates a dignitary, which seems unlikely. For that matter, how many US Presidents can you name - let alone the past leaders of other nations? Those you can is probably due to circumstance or notoriety.
Now, my surname will likely live on - baring some catostrophic disaster. My genes will continue, and possibly even some of the "life" lessons that were passed down from my grandparents to me to my children. Maybe that is eternity, atleast while man exists on earth a part of me is eternal.

But, no thanks on living as long as the universe. This life has been just fine - rollercoasters and all.