You will see your life after you die. You’ll see what you did in mortality. People who have had near-death experiences say that they saw a history of their life, and saw how their actions affected other people. I believe in the afterlife (and life before this life.)
I went through a phase when I read alot of those life afterlife books, or near-death experience books. It was right after my dad died. Those studies had an impact on me, and I started thinking about the history of my own life. Life is short. We can progress or we can regress. There is no standing still. When I look back over my life I want to be happy that I toughed it out, and tried my best not to hurt others.
It’s wise to live your best, most honorable life. We have a choice everyday. I understand that trials are here for us to progress. If I handle them in an honorable way, these trials bring me closer to God. But it’s not easy to appreciate trials, even when understood.
Somedays, I feel sad, but recognize there is no other way. If I were to believe that this is it — this life — then I would think, “life is unfair.” Or when Woody Allen says, “life is divided into the horrible and the miserable … so just be glad that you’re miserable.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmZZGxSorTQ
There are some things we have no control over — natural occurrences such as illness and accident that are sad. But it’s what other people choose to do that is depressing. It’s shocking what people will do for money. Especially in this world, people with money rule, or people with power rule.
You are respected in this world if you have the temporal, worldly things — beauty, money, career, being tall if you’re a man… Doctors, Lawyers, Indian Chiefs.* Ooops, can’t say that any more. Native American Chiefs? It’s easy to get sucked into wanting these things, and wanting the praises of the world.
There is more to this life than what you see. Everyone dies, Everyone. And when you do, I believe you’ll see your life in history — you will see what you did, and how that impacted other people. When you were mean, when you cheated someone. But also when you were kind and not discouraged, especially when it was not easy.
*When I was young we used to play this game, where you would count the buttons on your clothes, naming the occupations of your potential mate –“lets see who you are going to marry?” And then you would name them off,one for each button…richman, poorman, bakerman, thief, doctor, lawyer, indian chief, a tinker a tailor, a cowboy, sailor. well that was it. I always wanted to land on the doctor. I guess I married the “taylor”