Article in Stretton Focus, February 2014
Some readers will recognise the title of my piece, as a quotation from Hamlet. The young prince is about to fight a duel, in which he could be killed. He faced the prospect of his own death with a cool philosophy, saying that death is inevitable; and if you don’t die today you are only putting it off to another time – readiness is all.
How ready are we to face the inevitable? We should be thinking first of those we leave behind; and making it as easy as we can for what they will have to do. Have you written your will? And what about the funeral arrangements? You may want to donate your body for medical research or make provision not to be kept ʿofficiously aliveʾ.
But what about the ʿother sideʾ of death? How can we be ready for that? It all depends on what your expectations are. Different religions have a variety of speculation on life after death: and that’s all it can be – speculation. You will have to judge for yourself the value of what’s on offer from the various religions.
Personally I’m not enthusiastic at the prospect of sitting through an everlasting Songs of Praise. John Milton thinks that “Attired with stars we shall forever sit / Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee, O Time”. Sitting seems to be a favourite posture, but I would like a bit more action myself. Rupert Brooke is more philosophical and envisions himself as being “a pulse in the eternal mind, no less”.
Perhaps it would be better to leave the unknown where it is, and just focus on being ready before you go. I would recommend being at peace with yourself, and with those around you (and therefore at peace with God) and trusting that all will be well: but also being ready for a few surprises!
Donald Horsfield