What would you do?

Let us suppose for a moment that you – and only you - have the power to absolutely guarantee that everyone alive can survive death and be able to live their lives secure in the sure and certain knowledge that their own existence will continue - along with all the opportunities for joy, love, learning and self-improvement that continued existence will offer. There is just one snag. To exercise this power you must die – but unlike everyone else – you must die in the sure and certain knowledge that your own death will result in complete and irrevocable oblivion. Would you have the courage to do the right thing?

Part II. 22nd March, 2008

It’s not so much a trick question, as an absurd hypothesis. None of the decisions we have to make in life are so clear cut and none would have such a profound impact. And in any case, if we are all one, the situation is not possible – but it does kind of force us to focus on our motives and our commitment to our fellow beings. Do we help others because we need to – or are we able to keep ego out of the equation entirely and act from the purest form and highest levels of love and compassion.
There are, I am sure, a great many atheists with nihilistic notions of the “hereafter” who nevertheless do wonderful and selfless humanitarian work out of sheer compassion for others – and many people of a similar mind who have laid down their own lives for the sake of others.
By contrast, at the other end of the scale I have met nihilists so bound up in their own hedonistic little view of existence that they saw no shame whatever in declaring an utter contempt for what happened to the world and the people in it after their own demise.
For myself, I would love to be able to say that I act always with only the best motives, but honesty demands that I cannot make that claim. There is very often the same question hovering: “Am I doing this for them, or am I doing it for me?”.
At this special time of year it is appropriate that we should find a place in our hearts for the appreciation of the courage in others – as well as their love and compassion.
In the certain knowledge that he would be crucified, Jesus Christ still had the courage to fulfill that prophesy – and it seems even Jesus had his doubts.
The insistence by some that Jesus was only a man would make his love, compassion and his ultimate sacrifice all the more remarkable. And as we are all one – and as love, transcending time and space, can accomplish all things – then let it be our love and compassion for each other that validates Christ’s courage and his love and compassion for us.
Wishing you every blessing at Easter, in peace, light and love - Steve