Anybody interested in my theory about life after death? I remember explaining this theory to a former colleague at the FD, late on an evening, after a rather fabulous meal at the Portuguese restaurant next to the Amstel, close to the office. She was not impressed. But I still like it.
My theory is based on two impressions. The first one I remember from a Dutch book, Bezonken Rood (Sunken Red ), by Jeroen Brouwers. Nothing exists that doesn’t touch something else.That’s kind of the motto of the book, it comes back all of the time.
The other impression is from mathematics lessons. I think it finally struck me when I was studying Economics in Tilburg, but that’s only proof that I am a slow learner, this is basically primary education stuff. When something exists and you try to divide it up, it can not disappear anymore. It will always stay there.
That’s how I think about eternal life.
I live and I influence people. These people influence people and the people that are being influenced by the people that I influenced, influence people on their own. In the end this will be a watered down version of me that will live on forever. I mean, it cannot disappear as long as there is life existent in the western hemisphere (time to travel east and southwest!)
Is this helpful?
My answer is yes. The ultimate goal in life is to maximize the inheritance that you leave. Not in a financial way; I have never been interested in that and, maybe because of that – that is my excuse – utterly unsuccessful in achieving anything. No, you try to make the best of your life in a way that leaves most positive impact.
Of course impact alone is not sufficient. That would put Hitler or Stalin on the same level as Jesus or Nelson Mandela. What you try to achieve is positive impact.
In fact, this is where one of my other theories, the one of being in need of absolution, meets the theory of eternal life. Of course we fail constantly to live up to the possibilities that we have to maximixe the positive impact of our lives. That’s why we need to ask for forgiveness. That’s why we need to always try to improve on ourselves. That’s why we always need to realise that we will fail on our expectations, just because they are set highly. It is the way Leentje, my third grandmother, used to say: Aim high, the level will decrease enough while shooting.
I suppose she is right. But that doesn’t mean that, even with aiming high, ones influence would not become pretty insignificant over time. But it will never disappear. And that’s the way we will live on forever. Amen
5 oct
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Bob Hofman says
” The ultimate goal in life is to maximize the inheritance that you leave. ”
Mind tricking words Joost…. keep on writing 🙂
What about lives being connected? What seems to be a painful lesson in this live might be there for a reason and turns out to be a blessing in in a next life, as our souls grow by doing, by learning…. so is life, is living about my/our impact or about unconditional just being for others. Have a rich and blessed Sunday, Bob
Han says
That is a truly appropriate Sunday contribution, Joost! It also raises the question who we can ask forgiveness from …
Mr Matt Rezac, Keeper of Goats says
Have you ever read the books Connected and Linked? They support your good thinking here. Turns out, it’s not just DNA, personality, character, slow wit, etc., that are passed forward, but also things like our dietary habits and bad haircuts. Some theorists fear that the burden of Pete Rose on future generations in this respect will actually have a generative, multiplying quality.
julierezac@btconnect.com says
know nothing about Pete Rose, but am reminded daily about bad haircuts. I like DNA though, read today we are very close to pigs, which I behave like during the day, and Julie tries to imitate at night
julierezac@btconnect.com says
Basically ourselves of course. But I will go and try it with a priest one of these days
julierezac@btconnect.com says
Am not yet ready for the coming back part, but then again, how can you come back when you never leave?
Shelly says
This is quite a thought provoking reflection, Joost!
I know, as a middle aged person, I’ve been thinking about my legacy. For what will I be remembered? Who will people say I was and what did I stand for?
julierezac@btconnect.com says
Ha Shelly, you get into details here. I could spell out quite a few things how you’ve influenced my life. Most of them are splendid, one of them is most surely the silly laugh that my wife, also a Rezac, she cant help it, gets into when she has said something outrageously funny, again, she’s a Rezac, she cant help it.
Mary says
Ahhh thank you Grasshopper. You always inspire me Joost.