Life! Oh life!
That is life!
Such is life!
These are many exclamations about life.
What is life really?
How does life exist? In what form?
What is in this life seff? (As my grandma would ask)
I woke up very early Thursday morning preoccupied with taking stock taking my life. How I have lived it and still will live it – Thank God for his mercies and graces.
One thought was very strong. How will my life end?
With news of deaths were coming through from everywhere – from people I know, the television and loads of forwarded posts on social media. Deaths of some persons known and unknown.
A sudden sadness engulfs me. I was lost in my thoughts. Why does death evoke the feeling of the realisation that no one is exempt, that life won’t go on forever, that this world in no one’s own. We are all just passing through. Only but a phase.
What a sobering thought. Feeling of loneliness, of an emptiness that overwhelms me and I had no choice but to succumb completely to the certainty that every living thing dies one day and one day my life will fade away and I will be no more on this earth plane.
Truth is, prior to the news of any death, we live life like there is no end. We make big plans, acquire like we must have it all, laugh out so loud like we are invincible. Then suddenly news arrives of the death of someone we know and involuntarily we sober up.
Since I will die one day, how can I make the best of my life and making every second count? Like bring our forever in the now and live like its my last.
Alas! How can that be?
The effect of the news of the death is fleeting. I still have businesses, children, parents, friends, dreams to attend to. The designer shoes, cloths, perfumes, some still as they were bought saving them for that special occasion (which may never come) are stashed away. Ha…plans and plans and plans made, still being made.
The news of a death of someone somewhere leaves us with a sigh and a heavy heart. It hits so hard at our being that fearfully we begin to chorus … life, oh life, that’s life for you, this life sef…we begin lamenting to anyone in around even though strangers. We become advocates of a self righteous seeking activist, we begin to remind all who care to hear us, that life is nothing but vanity, that life is empty, that one needs to make peace with his fellow man and ultimately with his or her Creator. God becomes the central focus of our existence at that point in time.
So if truly as death reminds us that life is empty and vain and of nothingness… Why then do we struggle to acquire even that which we do not need, why then do we aspire to be Mr., Mrs. Dr. Professor, Pastor, Ambassador, Mother and the list goes on an on.
Don’t get me wrong…these are the validations of years of toiling and hard work. Or am I wrong? Giving that we all die one day, are we supposed to just waltz through life being non aspiring? Living without striving to achieve one thing or the other. Acquiring one thing or the other.
My thoughts are all over the place. I have no answers, then I remember a quote from one of my mentors – “Life is activity and activity is life.” I will keep on keeping on till my creator calls me; I will strive to live my life morally and honestly till then.
May the souls of the dead departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Till I write again, I love you for reading.
Ambassador Adaobi Alex- Oni writes from Lagos.