Why You Should Stop Existing and Live in the Now

In this month's guest post, Pastor/Professor Lawrence Ware urges us to live, rather than simply existing.

Every morning, upon waking, Alexander the Great would have his servants tell him: One day soon you will die. This was not because Alexander the Great was morbid—for him, it was inspirational.

Dear reader, allow this to be a wake up call. Rich or poor, famous or a part of the hoi polloi, we all have a common denominator: death.

We like to think that the world will end without us. Once we are gone, we think that the Earth will stop rotating. The sky will darken. The world will freeze over.

It does not happen that way.

When we die, people will cry. They will be sad. They will post Facebook status messages about how we all need to value life—live each moment like it is our last. People will write on your Facebook wall and say how much they miss you. Silliness like “God needed another angel…” will be said—as if God needed anything. They will have your funeral, cry, and people will talk too long during the time for remarks. After it is all done, we will return to our lives; happens every time.

Why am I meditating upon death; because I want you to live. Not exist, live.

Do not live in the future. Do not put things off. Stop procrastinating.

Take that trip. Go back to school. If you love them, tell them. Notice the little things: the sound of laughter, the smell of spring, the feel of cold.

Live.

Death is certain. We do not know when, and we do not know where. All you have is this moment.

Right now: are you awake to life? Or are you just existing in it; suffering through. If so, then it is time to wake up.

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Lawrence Ware is lecturing professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University and Pastor of Christian Education at Prospect Church. He writes for Tikkun and Religion Dispatchers all while living in Oklahoma City with his wife and sons.
 
 
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