Why Death Makes Us Alive

This paradoxical statement does not aim to add more heat to the intense argumentation whether or not there is life after death and whether or not there is actually a metaphysical or non-material form called a soul. Let us leave this intellectual-moral impasse to those who brand themselves as dualists and nihilists, among many other philosophical brand names. Surely, our modest background in Philosophy, alongside the delight of Literature, taught us that there are so many questions that we can raise only to find out that this lifetime is never enough to give answers. To our dismay, when we have already assumed the answers to these questions, more questions have actually risen.

Why do we have to enjoy life despite the knowledge of death? Answer: Why not!

Since life is limited and death is just lurking around, people should always strive to attain the quality that they want in their lives. The belief of both afterlife and immortality supports this. The religious and righteous know that they have an obligation to perform in accordance with their creed and conscience. If such performance of an obligation provides them the quality of life that they desire, then they have to do so. The atheists, however, are not exempt from the performance of personal obligations they have set for themselves.

Death does not have the power to extinguish the existence of the human person. When people have found the meaning and purpose of their lives, which can be very elusive and obscure, then they will lead meaningful and purposeful lives. Their lifetime will be spent towards the realization of their vision and achievement of their mission which is tantamount to happiness. The list of names of those who died but still exist today is long. Should we not strive to be included in that list? Should we not and that is our heart’s desire, then we ask: What is life for?

Life is a process and so is death. These processes that are bound to be completed can never be altered, at least in its order. Regardless of heaven or nirvana, what people can only do is to ensure that along the completion of such process, they have made a difference and have declared that life is worth living. So, who’s afraid of the Grim Reaper? We only pray when he comes, we are prepared.

So the holidays remind us to rethink life and death. Let us learn from the Mexicans in their Dia de Muertos when the Day of the Dead is a beautiful celebration of life itself! Let us embrace death as it is the spouse of life. John Donne, in his Devotions upon Emergent Occasions (1624), taught us very well when he said, “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

I can remember one student this semester asked for an excuse of his 2-week absence from my class due to the death of his grandmother. I did not bother to ask any explanation and just accepted his excuse. But I did not want to miss the chance to share some nuggets of wisdom to him, so I said to him, “Your lola is now in a better place and has rested in peace with her Creator. That’s for sure! What I am not sure of is whether my class is still a better place for you after the many lessons you have missed and whether you can rest peacefully after I am going to assign you these tasks.” Oh, life!