THE ENIGMA OF LIFE AND DEATH: A MEDITATION OF MEZE GOODSPEED

ByDibango

July 11, 2024
THE ENIGMA OF LIFE AND DEATH: A MEDITATION OF MEZE GOODSPEEDTHE ENIGMA OF LIFE AND DEATH: A MEDITATION OF MEZE GOODSPEEDTHE ENIGMA OF LIFE AND DEATH: A MEDITATION OF MEZE GOODSPEED

One evening, during the rainy season of 2023, my thoughts faded out in the reveling of the delectable beauty and grace that knelt before me in the personage of my friend, Nkem, as she routinely arranged her paraphernalia that scattered all over her bed. She was a top-notch graduate of chemistry from Bells University in Nigeria and she was, many a time, as I witnessed, concocting a formula or trying to engineer an innovation, and for this reason, the scatterings. I felt blessed to have a friendly acquaintance with such a blend of beauty and brains but my reveling was abruptly ground to a halt by the barricade of a very harsh and cruel reminder, and I quietly asked her, “Nkem, why do we have life only to lose it”? She looked at me, baffled and overwhelmed, as she had no answer (is there an answer?) and she could barely fathom the origin and trigger of this very thought-exhausting question.” Shey!”, was her response as she concurred to this rhetorical question that bothers the hearts of men. The thought of our impending mortality, like a somber sentinel, stands guard at the threshold of our thoughts.

Amidst the ephemeral tapestry of existence, a vexing question overwhelms the chambers of contemplation: why do we, in our mortal coil, strive and toil only to yield to the embrace of the inevitable night? Is life but a flicker, a fleeting shadow cast upon the grand stage, soon to be swallowed by the abyss of oblivion?

Is life not a magnificent drapery knit with threads of wonder, beauty, splendor and astonishment? Can we deny the allure of its experiences, the sweet nectar it bestows upon us? Yet, as the moments unfurl in splendor, do we not feel the weight of a relentless truth—the inevitability of its loss, the inescapable grasp of death? Why, then, do we dance with life, only to be ensnared by death’s cold embrace?

Life is the experience of existence and in the realm of existence, life stands as an exquisite mosaic of emotions and sensations with each hue of experience intertwining to form the delicate and magnificent design of our very being. Is life not so great, so brilliant, so enchanting and so vivid that every sentiment finds its dwelling within it? It embraces the vastness of all existential phenomena and experiences in their paradoxes and all emotions embodied therein- joy and sorrow, love and heartbreak, birth and parting. This journey through life embodies every shade of existence, every twist of fate. Yet, in this drapery of existence, do we not trace a bold thread of melancholy—death, the inevitable visitor?

The sweetness of life, like nectar, sipped from the chalice of time, evokes rapture and delight. Can one deny the sheer joy in savoring food that tantalizes the palate, the warmth of love that envelops our souls, or the bonds of family that cradle us in unity? Childhood’s innocence and freedom’s ecstasy—these gems of life’s treasury are they not bestowed upon us to cherish? Yet, as we immerse ourselves in life’s splendors, can we evade the creeping shadow of death that lurks on the edges of our existence or gently torments the recess of the soul with this helpless wonder?

Are health and vitality not our supposed companions on this voyage? Is not the vitality of youth a gift to cherish above all? The laughter of shared memories, the enchantment of romance, the fervor of passion—these fragments of life’s mosaic, are they not what elevate mere existence to profound living? Yet alas, does not the whisper of mortality pervade every moment and summon our souls from lingering in these reveling? Does not each breath carry with it the awareness that the clock of life is unwaveringly ticking?

Is not the very essence of life’s joys tainted by the certainty of its end? As we revel in the grandeur and splendor of nature’s landscapes, do we not acknowledge that its beauty is fleeting? Are not the victories we celebrate, the wisdom we attain, and the bonds we forge merely fleeting flames in the vast conflagration of time? Is not every delight overshadowed by the weighty truth that life, despite its brilliance, is transient?

Religion, the sanctuary and the guidepost of many has sought to fathom this enigma, yet even in this realm of faith, does not its answer elude us? Even the explanations religion has offered do not sate the soul and have not doused this overwhelming wonder. Faith, the lantern that illuminates the unknown, casts only a feeble glow upon the question of life and death. The afterlife, the eternal resting place it promises, demands trust in the unseen. Do we lean on the unseen to survive the savagery of reality? But, is not this reliance on faith itself a tacit acknowledgment of the elusive nature of life’s ultimate purpose?

Is there not solace in the bond between generations, the unbroken chain of ancestry and progeny? The legacy of one’s existence, passed from generation to generation- does it not whisper that life is more than a fleeting moment that echoes through the corridors of time? Yet, even this acute connection is tinged with the understanding that every link in this chain must inevitably dissolve.

Is there a grand purpose, a celestial design that choreographs life’s dance? As we grapple with this question, we confront the very essence of our humanity. The paradox of life and death, the cosmic rhythm that echoes through the ages, compels us to ponder. Why do we partake in the joys and sorrows of life, knowing that they are fragile petals destined to fall?

Does this looming specter, this ultimate equalizer, bear the power to transform the very essence of our being? Does the awareness of our transitory nature beckon us to infuse meaning into each fleeting instant, to weave purpose into the tapestry of our days?

Could it be that life’s exquisite fragility grants it its truest value? Just as the ephemeral nature of the blooming of a rose lends to this beautiful flower, an unparalleled grace, perhaps the fleeting nature of life’s experiences graces them with a profound richness. Could it be that the looming specter of death heightens the intensity of life itself, urging us to embrace every moment with fervor and wholeness?

And so, in the grand theatre of existence, we find ourselves enmeshed in a cosmic ballet—a dance of life and death, joy and sorrow, creation and dissolution. As the curtain rises and falls, as we pirouette through the stages of time, we are left with questions that reverberate through the ages. Yet, perhaps it is in the mystery itself that we find the essence of our journey—an enigma to ponder, a puzzle to unravel, a truth to embrace.

Is it not the embrace of this mystery that makes life’s voyage all the more precious and all the more enchanting? As we navigate the labyrinth of existence, we are called upon to revel in life’s colors and textures, to embrace the fleeting beauty of each moment. And as we dance along the precipice of time, perhaps we can find solace in knowing that even as life wanes, its brilliance ignites the spark of our being, leaving an indelible mark upon the canvas of eternity.

As we stand at the crossroads of existence and oblivion, the reflection upon our limited sojourn may, perchance, kindle the fires of intention within. It is this stark awareness that impels us to sculpt our actions into legacies, to sow kindness and compassion as the winds of time threaten to sweep us away. In the face of mortality, the cacophonous pursuits of vanity subside, and the pursuit of a more profound humaneness emerges.

So, dear pilgrims of life, let us ponder whether the cadence of mortality is, in truth, a benevolent guide. Might it be that the ceaseless rhythm of life and death orchestrates a symphony of lessons, urging us to cast off the shackles of superficiality and embrace the sublime? To grasp the ephemeral instant with gratitude, to live wisely, to love deeply, and to bequeath a legacy that resonates through the corridors of time.

As the great river of existence carries us toward the horizon, let the awareness of our own brevity lead us not to despair, but to an awakening. An awakening that kindles within us fervor and reminds us of the divine call to live rather than exist; act right and leave our footprints on the sands of time.

SALUD!

Meze Goodspeed

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