A Question for the Ages

A Question for the Ages

Our generation has abandoned the idea of solitude and it has done so either
willingly or absent-mindedly. And along with its expiration, more is lost between the lines. The mind of modern man has subscribed to the idea that greater activity is tantamount to an equal amount of productivity. Sadly, this connotation has never been farther from the truth.

We currently live in a world that is chockfull of distractions. Left and right, we seemingly run into the latest fad that is sweeping Metro Manila by storm or we anticipate the forthcoming week because a good movie that stars the man or woman of our dreams will be coming out. As a species, man can never be content with what he has. And I wonder if it is simply because we long for a life that we know should exist in; that we long for a life that in our heart of hearts look for but can never attain in this physical and fallen existence. And as if being trapped in an upright crucible, we are all going down--faster than we know. We are all bound to slip into that state of physical slumber when our bodies will no longer feel the warmth it once felt nor will our eyes ever see the light of day. You incessantly toil and labor for the upcoming promotion or the next big job opportunity.

What then?

You work your way to become the top professional in your company and command the respect of all of your peers as well as your superiors. All of the people in your company would be gravely out of line if he or she did not know your name as you now have skyrocketed to unprecedented fame and status.

What then?

You find your mate and end up having the marriage that you've always dreamed of---maybe even more. You make a family and lavishly shower them with gifts and love as you provide for their daily needs. If you're fortunate enough, the word 'dysfunctional' will never be used in the same sentence with your family.

What then?

You will grow old and retire real early to enjoy an age of abundance that will see you living off your businesses' profits. You'd never have to worry about not having enough money because you've become such a success at what you do. You live like this for the remainder of your life until you encounter that last gasp. You pass away, shift states, throw in the towel, shuffle off from existence. You die.

What then? Seriously. What then?

Have you ever thought of where you were going after you're through with this makeshift Eden? And you think to yourself, maybe there is no life after death. "Maybe you just stop existing", you whisper in quiet thought.

Haven't you ever wished that time would stop at a particular moment just for the reason that you said to yourself, "This is the life."?

If you've ever been to the island of Boracay and if you've ever set foot on its trademark white sand, you'll probably know the feeling that I'm describing. If you've ever set foot on the apex of a mountatin top and stood high amongst the clouds and the lush greens all around you, you probably know the feeling. If you've ever felt loved by a close friend so unconditionally and knew that even if you blew it, nothing would ever change, you'd probably understand the rush that I'm talking about. Basking in the sun, marveling and looking down upon creation, feeling the sincere love of another friend, you say to yourself: "This is the life."

Have you ever asked how you got to that conclusion? Have you ever sincerely asked yourself, why you were able to say those words?

Our souls long for something more than the everyday clutter that we see on our office desks. Our souls are not meant to stare at a computer day in and day out for the rest of our lives. The human soul longs for that paradise that it has lost. It longs to be in that grandiose Eden and say, "This is the life." The whispers of this world reverberate when we are still, when we are quiet enough to listen to it. When we rest on that pristine beach, when we gaze upon the sunset sky and all its colors, when we rest in the safe arms of love---this is when we know something is right. It is when we know that there is a life out there that we used to know because we know in our heart of hearts what life should be.

Do you know what will happen to you at the end of your life? Do you know where you will go? Honestly now. There is a road that leads to the life that we know we're supposed to experience.I know of only One way. One truth to this ineffable question. One life which we are all invited to participate in.

Ask yourself. Do you really know where you are going?