Memento Mori: Remember You Must Die

Were all the geniuses of history to focus on this single theme, they could never fully express their bafflement at the darkness of the human mind. No person would give up even an inch of their estate, and the slightest dispute with a neighbor can mean hell to pay; yet we easily let others encroach on our lives — worse, we often pave the way for those who will take it over. No person hands out their money to passerby, but to how many do each of us hand out our lives! We’re tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers. — Seneca

So it’s the start of a new year. A new decade. One more trip around the sun. The end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Every year we sit down and make a list of resolutions or goals that we plan on doing in the new year to be better versions of ourselves than the year before. Normally, I would want to start the year off by writing about something a little more positive or uplifting, but a recent tragedy that happened a couple weeks ago has made me revisit my own resolutions and caused me to reflect on a couple of subjects… The first is something we all want more of, but cannot buy it, grow it, or even steal it. (You shouldn’t be stealing anyways!) We all have a certain amount of it, some more than others, but we have all been given the same gift. What is this gift?… it’s Time. The second is entirely dependent on the first, and is an inevitability that at some point in our lives we must all face. Our mortality.

I want you to go back and re-read the quote from Seneca and really focus on his last statement..."Yet [we] think too little of wasting time.” How many of you have already wasted some time today? Maybe your alarm went off and instead of getting out of bed to start your day, you either went back to sleep or scrolled through social media for a few minutes. Maybe you got out of the shower and sat at the foot of your bed for a few minutes, waiting to fully wake up. Maybe you have been staring at the clock for the last 5 minutes waiting for 5 o’clock. More often than not, we waste time through procrastination. Waiting for the right time to start writing that book we’ve been talking about. Waiting for the right time to go to the gym and get back in shape. Waiting for the right time to join a church because we are just living our “best life”. 

A prominent Chicago pastor from the 1930s and 40s named A.W. Tozer might have said it best, “When you kill time, remember that it has no resurrection.”

If you read my earlier posts, you will notice I like to define things… so what exactly is time? How about mortality? Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com define them as such:

Time (noun):

1. the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues

2. a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed on another from past through present to future

Mortality (noun):

1. the state of being subject to death
   

To be human is to be mortal, and to be mortal literally means death. I know this all seems a bit somber and borderline morbid but I wanted to bring this subject to light as it has laid heavy on my heart for couple weeks now. The tragedy I mentioned above was in reference to the awful helicopter crash that happened right outside Calabasas, California. On board were 9 individuals, that included NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. None survived the crash. The news didn’t take long to travel around the country and soon it became a viral topic of discussion around the world. I realized several things in the wake of this horrible event, but for the sake of time I’ll only share my top 3 epiphanies:

1. Kobe had an immeasurable impact on so many lives around the world, and — for once as of late — the media put all nonsense aside and helped to celebrate and mourn the lives of those lost in the crash. The immense support from sports fans everywhere has been simply amazing to watch. It goes to show, that you never know who is watching and who’s life(s) you may have an impression on. 

2. We do not know how much time the Good Lord has given each of us. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so why do we put off the things that really matter? Why do we hold onto grudges with loved ones? Why do we spend countless hours on social media or Netflix? Why do we continue on with bad habits? Why do we stick with the same dead-beat job instead of taking a chance on that dream job? Why do we not go on that crazy trip that you think you can’t afford because money is “tight”? You never know when your time will be called, so make the most of it.

3. This was a painful reminder that we are ALL mortal, and death is just a part of life. Even if it is abrupt and unexpected. 

The last point above brings us to the title of this post and the meaning behind it. "Memento Mori: Remember You Must Die." The origin of this famous saying is thought to have come from the ancient Romans. The intent was not to create a state of fear or worry, but rather one of reflection and lucidity. Understanding that you are going to die and that it might even be today, should always be at the forefront of a stoic’s mind as well asl a Christian. For the stoics, this saying was and is a constant reminder to live life to the fullest. Have a life of meaning. Be virtuous. For Christians, this is a reminder that we are not of this world, and this is only the beginning. Do not be afraid — while we are sinners, Christ came to carry the burden. Be loving. Be kind. Be, to the best of your abilities, Christ-like. (Look up Matthew 16:24) Most importantly, keep an eternal perspective. 

Take a look at these quotes from a few stoics and some excerpts of the Bible on the subject of death and our mortality. Read them slowly. Ponder on their meanings. Pray. Meditate if you have to. Be thankful for the life you have and cherish every moment of time you are given.

The wise man will live as long as he ought, not as long as he can. — Seneca

I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it. — Epictetus

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ — John 11:25-26 NIV

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:7-8 NIV

For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. — Job 8:9 ESV

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. — James 14:4 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not parish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 ESV

In closing I have come to the realization that: LIFE IS FRAGILE. Call and tell your loved ones that you love them. Forgive your enemies. Forgive yourself. Each day is a new chance to be better than the last. Remembering that Kobe Bryant was one of, if not the most clutch player to ever ever play the game… are you ready for the shot-clock to hit zero?

For more on “Memento Mori” and the stoic's viewpoints of life and death click the link below: 

https://dailystoic.com/history-of-memento-mori/