Theories on Life: The End

Here is a question to which I have given a lot of thought: if you were to choose your way of leaving this world what would it be?

“I would die in my sleep.”  I am pretty sure that is what most everyone says; everyone except we, the more adventurous few.

If I could choose any way to go, it would be like this:

Yeah, that’s right, assassination by car bombing.

Okay, before you freak out, listen to what I have to say. I am not just a derranged, violent kid, and I am not a pyromaniac (I enjoy fire and explosions as much as the next Boy Scout, but I am no Crazy Harry).

Crazy Harry

 (Left) A chaotic Muppet possessed by an uncanny obsession with explosives.

I really have plenty of good reason for my wish, now hear me out.

I will compare this form of exiting our mortal existence to that of dying in your sleep (seeing as it is the most wished for transportation into the world beyond).

So let’s explore.  Why do people want to die in their sleep? Upon inquiry, these were the answers I received: painlessness, peacefulness, lack of fear, lack of anxiety, because it is easy, and because it is relaxing. I am going to say that all these qualities fit under the category of “Comfort” Comfort to the body and the mind.

Comfort. Good reason. You wouldn't have comfort in a car bombing would you? You would just be blown to the high heavens real quick, just like that. In fact, it would be so quick that it would probably be painless. It just might be so quick; you wouldn't even realize that you were dying. That would eliminate anxiety. No worries, you would just be dead. That could even be peaceful, depending on how you were feeling when you started the car. Honestly, that sounds pretty comfortable to me. Okay, not comfortable, but not un-comfortable.  You are just dead. This isn't a fact, but (in a non-religious, non-afterlife situation) when you are dead, you can’t be comfortable, you can only be dead.

Comfort is a fantastic reason, but maybe there is more to dying than comfort.

As before mentioned, I spent some time asking people why they would like to die and why they would like to die that way (and I thank all of you for taking time out of your day to answer my random questions).  Only one person did not say they would like to die in their sleep. This more adventurous person said if they could choose a way to die, they would be pushing someone out of the way of a bus (or a train or something else that could potentially squash people).

They would have purpose with their death. They would die for something.

But what if you could die in comfort and die for something at the same time?  Wouldn't that be the way to go? But how could you do that? Oh, I have an idea.

Go out in comfort. Go out with honor. Go out with a Bang.
Assassination by Car Bombing is the way to go.

For your enjoyment: Chanson D’Amour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ3ZvzkEs4E

Gratitude v. Consumerism; Scrooge and Halloween

 When does Christmas begin? Tiny Tim and Kermit the Frog sing: 'Tis a Season to be Jolly and Joyous."  Christmas is not just a day, or two days for that matter.  It is a season.
For some, Christmas goes all year long, for others it comes with the snow; comes the day after Thanksgiving, or the day after Halloween.

For me, Christmas makes a powerful entrance with the first snowfall of the season.  Snow makes me think of Christmas.  Not ribbons or tags, not packages, boxes, or bags.  Snow makes me think of Hot Chocolate, and putting lights on the tree with my Mother, listening to Mannheim Steamroller, Harry Connick Jr, and Handle's Messiah.  Especially Handle's Messiah.  Snow makes me think "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is Given, and the Government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Christmas is about Family and Remembering Christ.

Now, on the matter of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving so often gets overshadowed by Christmas.

Not only is that okay, it is a good thing.
Let me explain.
No. There is too much.
Let me sum up.

What is Thanksgiving all about?  "Giving Thanks.  Duh."  Giving Thanks for what?




I remember celebrating Thanksgiving in elementary school.  We drew pictures of turkeys using outlines of our hands and we made paper Pilgrim hats and buckles for our shoes.  Thanksgiving comes from what we learn about our Separatist ancestors and their "arrival" in America.

We celebrate this group of people who came from England to exercise religious freedom.  We celebrate their hardship, trials, and success.  We celebrate the Goodness of God in their lives and the Goodness of God in our own.

During Thanksgiving we celebrate our ancestors and God's blessings.  During Christmas we celebrate our Families and Christ.

For kicks, let me give you a list of some Thanksgiving songs all about the Goodness of God, expressing thankfulness for Christ:
For the Beauty of the Earth
Father, Thy Children to Thee Now Raise
Come, Ye Thankful People
and Prayer of Thanksgiving

( so don't even try to tell me there is no such thing as a Thanksgiving song.)

Maybe it is only natural that Thanksgiving gets overshadowed in the spirit of Christmas because the spirit of Thanksgiving and the Spirit of Christmas are the same thing.  Thanksgiving and Christmas go hand in hand.

Thanksgiving and Christmas go together if we remember the real meaning of Christmas,

which meaning, I believe, is forgotten because of some developing events (i.e. Black Friday).

Black Friday led me to believe that The spirit of Christmas and Thanksgiving had been forgotten by consumerism, and my roommate and good friend, (Mr. Bah-Humbug; I hate Christmas because it is a pagan holiday; Halloween is my favorite holiday; and yes, I enjoy it when you call me Scrooge) Taylor Joel Bishop, brought up the point that every performing artist has their own Christmas album, not because they have an original song or wonderful sounding music, but because they want to make money.

His point was well taken.

It was this point that restored my faith in people.  Performing artists make Christmas albums because people buy them.  During the Christmas season, people want to hear Christmas Music.  That is their way of celebrating.  Personally, I love to Bruce Springsteen's Santa Clause is Coming to Town.  It reminds me of my brother, whom I have not seen in months because he lives in Arizona.

People will always continue to celebrate Christmas.  They will celebrate it in their own ways.  Some will sing The Twelve Days of Christmas and others will sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel.  Some will recite the Nativity, and others will recite The Night Before Christmas.  Some people will celebrate be having a lesson on Christ and His Birth and Life, and some will celebrate simply be being with their families, many will do both, but everyone (Mr. Bah-Humbug included) will be celebrating Christmas.

Essential Rudeness and Correct Arguments

Just to warn you upfront, this is for me.  I only want to interrupt those who want to talk uninterrupted.

Nonessential Niceties and Fallacious Follies

http://unmarkedcrosswalk.blogspot.com/

This blog’s original purpose is to help those of you who just came from another dimension, (or just another blog), a dimension not only of sight (kind of) and sound (not really, unless you’re reading aloud), but if mind (TJ’s mind to be exact).  To restore your Faith in the Human Race.