I live in the Washington, D.C. area. In this area there are many professionals doing all sorts of seemingly important things. The world is impacted from this area, both positively and negatively. The days are long and the pace is fast. It is very easy to be on the hamster wheel and forget that there is life beyond that wheel.
As humans, we are generally in some sort of fast lane, trying to achieve that next thing. We focus very much on ourselves, what we want, who we want to know, and how we want to be perceived by others. Day by day, moments seem larger than life, interactions seem critical, and decisions seem consequential. And then something jolts us off of that hamster wheel for just long enough to consider the big picture. Sometimes it is a loss of a job, the loss of a lifestyle, or the death of someone close. We begin to ponder that bigger picture, and suddenly the day to day rat-race seems so small and inconsequential.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal...”
As we ponder the big picture, we must truly look around at everything and consider the question, "Why?" Why are we here? Are we truly just a billion coincidences that resulted in human society? Why do we run in the rat-race? Why do we want so much for ourselves? Why do we protect what is "ours"? Why do we work so hard? Why do we chase those mirages of happiness?
As humans we need to know ourselves. This means knowing our flawed ways. We strive, chase, and yearn for all the wrong things. The poor want what the rich have. The rich want what the richer have. Ultimately, there is an end of the road for each of us here on Earth. It will be over. People like to say, "you can't take it with you." But we must consider why we wanted "it" in the first place.
My kids argue over rubber bands. It seems ridiculous to an adult. To them it seems important. As adults, we argue over business and politics. To us it seems important. But what if it is just as ridiculous as the rubber band? If you consider how short of a time we have here on Earth, the business and politics arguments are ridiculous. If you don't believe in God, then wasting time arguing business or politics is really just wasting the hours you have left until you die and your existence ends. If you do believe in God, then arguing business and politics is inconsequential to the infinity that is God and Heaven. Either way, as humans we need to pull out of the rat-race and consider the big picture. Most of the day to day that consumes us is just noise.
If we eliminate the day to day, then we must consider the really big picture ... what comes next? Here I argue that it does not serve any human well to argue that there is nothing beyond ourselves and this Earth. Arguing that there is a dead end is just that, a dead end. Not considering, not thinking, not contemplating the infinity of it all is just plain dim.
I imagine it is easy to consider the infinity of it all, at the very last second of your time here on Earth. As humans, we have the ability to delay at least that long. Don't let it be that long. Your life on Earth is small ... it is that rubber band. The daily grind is not all that there is to life. Consider why you run that rat-race, just to slam into death. Is death the end? If you believe so, then you are probably sufficiently depressed. If you consider that death may not be the end, then your eyes are opened to the reality of eternity.