I visited a nursing home the other day to see a sick friend stricken with ALS.
The smell always leaves a lasting impression. Slightly chemical, cleaners and solvents masking an almost sweet sickly odor of living death and decay.
What does despair smell like? What do hopes, dreams and fading memories feel like as they slip through your fingers like fine sand?
Bright and simply decorated. Almost like the waiting room of a Doctor's office.
Apparently Death's lobby has music, basic cable, puppet shows and craft activity time.
Can a vibrant life really have been distilled down to this?
I was left with the question that if you could have immortality, would you want it? If 40 years isn't enough to have lived a fulfilling life, what is? 70? 100? 1000?
Can you live a full life in an hour? If you knew you where going to die right now would you regret? Would you touch those you love? Would you reflect upon the nature of God? Upon good things or bad?
If you could live forever, would you wan't to linger in an increasingly decrepit shell? As memories crumble against the remorseless erosion of time, would life mean anything after all those you love and cherished passed? Should a man be able to choose his passing? Should the right to take your own life be inalienable?
If you could live forever, would you want to?
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Originally posted by Hand of Hecate"If you could live forever, would you want to?
I visited a nursing home the other day to see a sick friend stricken with ALS.
The smell always leaves a lasting impression. Slightly chemical, cleaners and solvents masking an almost sweet sickly odor of living death and decay.
What does despair smell like? What do hopes, dreams and fading memories feel like as they slip through your finger right to take your own life be inalienable?
If you could live forever, would you want to?
Falsely premised question. We have no choice in the matter. The real you and the real me (not our temporary tents of clay but our god given souls at the moment of birth) are permanent. No biggee deal that life on earth is a fleeting vapor trail and that our pilgrimage tents die. In my honest opinion the op is unfocused and attempts to major on minor things.
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Originally posted by Hand of HecateNope. First of all, I worked in a nursing home for five years; I want to be shot when I'm too old to take care of myself. Secondly, my mother is old and miserable, after having been middle aged and miserable and young and miserable. She had lots of recent surgery to prolong her life, so that she can continue to spread misery and hate her own life. I don't want her existence. If I'm that miserable, and unwilling or unable to do anything about it, it's time to go. This http://tinyurl.com/27txzsx is an excellent article I recently read in the New York Times, about the negative impact on a family from putting a pacemaker in the father. The short version is that his heart outlasted his brain by many years.
I visited a nursing home the other day to see a sick friend stricken with ALS.
The smell always leaves a lasting impression. Slightly chemical, cleaners and solvents masking an almost sweet sickly odor of living death and decay.
What does despair smell like? What do hopes, dreams and fading memories feel like as they slip through your finger right to take your own life be inalienable?
If you could live forever, would you want to?
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Originally posted by Grampy BobbyThe punchline loses much if explanation is required. However, the post is deliberately unfocussed (hence the broken one line paragraphs) as it is meant to represent a chaotic and troubling experience. Namely that of a good friends tragic and lingering passing.
[b]"If you could live forever, would you want to?
Falsely premised question. We have no choice in the matter. The real you and the real me (not our temporary tents of clay but our god given souls at the moment of birth) are permanent. No biggee deal that life on earth is a fleeting vapor trail and that our pilgrimage tents die. In my honest opinion the op is unfocused and attempts to major on minor things.[/b]
Falsely premised? How so? It's a question not an argument. Plus, we do have a choice in the matter. We can choose how we live. We can choose when and in what manner we die.
If anything your assertion that the "real you and the real me are permanent" is a false premise. You have no proof of this at all. Still this makes you comfortable with your own mortality then I'm not going to take your security blanket away from you.
My security blanket is more tangible. I suspect that if I live a good rich life and enjoy my time with family and friends the end of life will hold little fear for me.
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Originally posted by Hand of Hecate"We can choose when and in what manner we die."
The punchline loses much if explanation is required. However, the post is deliberately unfocussed (hence the broken one line paragraphs) as it is meant to represent a chaotic and troubling experience. Namely that of a good friends tragic and lingering passing.
Falsely premised? How so? It's a question not an argument. Plus, we do have a choice life and enjoy my time with family and friends the end of life will hold little fear for me.[/b]
Grossly incorrect. God almighty alone selects the time, place and manner of our physical deaths. During the brief sojurn
we all have a short time to get past our arrogance and get it right, to get our our souls in order and our tickets punched.
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Originally posted by Grampy BobbyNear where I live, a 24 year old mother and her 7 month old baby were killed by a drugged up and drunk diver. I met a few times, she was a lovely person.
[b]"We can choose when and in what manner we die."
Grossly incorrect. God almighty alone selects the time, place and manner of our physical deaths. During the brief sojurn
we all have a short time to get past our arrogance and get it right, to get our our souls in order and our tickets punched.
............................................[/b]
Did God choose for her to die? If so, why did he choose for her to die after an agonising 30 hours in intensive care? And why was it time for a baby to shuffle off this mortal coil - did he have his 'soul in order'?
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Originally posted by Daemon SinI am sure you meant a drunk driver not diver!
Near where I live, a 24 year old mother and her 7 month old baby were killed by a drugged up and drunk diver. I met a few times, she was a lovely person.
Did God choose for her to die? If so, why did he choose for her to die after an agonising 30 hours in intensive care? And why was it time for a baby to shuffle off this mortal coil - did he have his 'soul in order'?
How can you blame God for what a drunk driver did?
Originally posted by Daemon SinYour #101 human viewpoint/emotional reaction ignores omniscience (He always
Near where I live, a 24 year old mother and her 7 month old baby were killed by a drugged up and drunk diver. I met a few times, she was a lovely person.
Did God choose for her to die? If so, why did he choose for her to die after an agonising 30 hours in intensive care? And why was it time for a baby to shuffle off this mortal coil - did he have his 'soul in order'?
knew all the knowable) as well as divine justice and integrity (He is always fair).
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Originally posted by Very RustyGB said "God almighty alone selects the time, place and manner of our physical deaths." If he is right, then of course God is to blame for what the drunk driver did because he is the one who selected the time, place, and manner of the mother's and child's deaths.
I am sure you meant a drunk driver not diver!
How can you blame God for what a drunk driver did?
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyI'm not furthering any discussion with you where you insist on using God's will as a response to any argument I make.
[b]"We can choose when and in what manner we die."
Grossly incorrect. God almighty alone selects the time, place and manner of our physical deaths. During the brief sojurn
we all have a short time to get past our arrogance and get it right, to get our our souls in order and our tickets punched.
............................................[/b]
Originally posted by pawnhandlerOk, So you and I have a meeting planned and were going to meet somewhere.
GB said "God almighty alone selects the time, place and manner of our physical deaths." If he is right, then of course God is to blame for what the drunk driver did because he is the one who selected the time, place, and manner of the mother's and child's deaths.
I name the place we will meet, on the way you are killed by some drunk driver.
Did I plan this? Was it in my big plan that you get killed by a drunk driver?
Questions to think about!
Originally posted by Very RustyPlease elaborate, it's almost as if you're on the verge of expressing a coherent thought.
Ok, So you and I have a meeting planned and were going to meet somewhere.
I name the place we will meet, on the way you are killed by some drunk driver.
Did I plan this? Was it in my big plan that you get killed by a drunk driver?
Questions to think about!
Originally posted by Hand of HecatePeople have to take responsibility for their actions, instead of blaming it on God.
Please elaborate, it's almost as if you're on the verge of expressing a coherent thought.
You can bring up you kids, and do the best job that you can.
Some kids grow up to be killers. Who do we blame here? the Parents?