2Pink,
i mean, people who were never JW don't walk around all day thinking that death could be around the next corner....they just live. how do i get to that stage?!
My, my, that's a tough subject and counseling is in order as others have suggested, but be careful, the search for the honest man is easier than the search for a competent therapist.
This kind of discussion among friends is really best done in a quiet evening with one's choice of libation..the internet is a poor substitute.. but for what its worth.
No one in my family is a JW and there is every variant in the world in my family in the view of death. One relative was a devout catholic, 94 years old and held onto life for all she was worth, kicking and screaming till she went. Another was Methodist, died early and asked us all to throw a huge party because she was going to her reward. My grandfather ignored the issue and I have never seen such fear in a man as he faced death - even though he was a pretty tough guy or at least he scared the shit out of me as I grew up.
Point is, your assumption that folks just live with the idea of death... well let's just say its not quite that simple.
I have observed that one point of the mid-life crisis is to come to grips with our own mortality - and we each do it in our own way. My wife ignores it. Having thought about it she would prefer to not think about it. For myself, death is not an enemy but a relief. One I'm not quite ready for but nearly.
General Ulysses S Grant died of throat cancer. Having squandered all his accumulated resources and leaving his family destitute he wrote his memoirs and with herculean discipline kept at it till he was done so that the proceeds would keep his family.
On his deathbed, his boyhood friend visited him and reminisced about the time the friend saved Grant's life as a youngster. The friend recounted all that Grant had done in his life - Mexican American War, Civil War, Presidency - and said 'well its been quite a life that would not have been had I not saved you (drowning if memory serves).'
Grant thought about it, looked pensive, and said, " Yes, it has been quite a life...but you know, once is enough"
That's my thought, its been great...but not that great...and once is enough.
Regards
Damocles
BTW Grant's memoirs is one of the great pieces of American writing. I recommend it even if it is a tough go.
