Sometimes, we don’t understand the wisdom of our fathers and the knowledge that they obtained throughout their journeys in life. The selfishness of human beings causes misperception about life, and hence, resulting conflicts with society.
In my early twenties, when my father used to advise me to be aware of the rugged roads in life and the empty promises of the politicians, I was establishing my argument based on some unrealistic ideologies that were built on a muddy foundation, which means a bunch of theoretical books. Such theories could not stand on the ground of reality. What selfish and naive beings we are as humans!
Between denial and selfishness, humans cause their own destruction. As our selfishness creates a delusional intelligence in our minds, and such a delusion drives our minds to denial. Denial of God, ethics, integrity, and humans’ boundaries and balance with nature, which eventually leads to destruction of our lives. Perhaps we think that happiness is the purpose of life, but in fact, it is the result of some aspects of life and a product of events that we experience. Happiness, per se, will not exist without its sources.
However, we are often wrongfully sanctify some sources, such as materials, politicians’ bright words, leaders, and singers and actors. We believe they are producing our happiness. Indeed, human beings have created such beliefs throughout history, and people surrendered their minds to it. But everything is perishable, and the memories and histories will evaporate with the death of the generations. But God will remain, even for those who are in denial and defiance of his existence.
The difference between my father and God is: when I was in a predicament and in need of my father in the past, I sought his advice and wisdom, but now he has gone. And when I was in need of God, I used to raise my head up and ask him for advice. In fact, God is still here and I can ask and plead to him at any time. Every day in life is a new lesson, but there is no guarantee that we understand every lesson. This is the reality of God, and many corners of life will always remain dark.
The value of a human is not in the position he is occupying but indeed is in his character. As many centuries have passed and powerful regimes sank, we are still blindly sailing in this life believing that we will never sink. After many years, now I can see life and death and admit that I don’t, and will never, understand the mystery of the two.
It is the same journey for all of us but we walk it differently:
As humans develop different cultures, depending on each culture we embrace both life and death differently. Throughout our lives we all are in a process to find a way to accept the end of this journey, which is life on earth, and begin a new journey, which is death. Thinking about death or the death of loved ones can be dreadful and causes psychological effects. Therefore, we have various ways of coping so that we can accept crises and continue life’s journey to the end. But suicide is only a sad short cut to end this journey and move to the other one, which is the journey of death.
Obviously, we all share the same path of life and death, but we walk differently on this path. Some people obsess with earthly life and are frightened by death, while others have no fear. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
We must remember as we strive to continue our life’s journey, that we should not forget and prepare for the next journey which is death.
– Serwan Zangana supported Operation Iraqi Freedom as a U.S Army translator before coming to the U.S from Kurdistan, Iraq in 1997 to seek political asylum. He was granted asylum status and years later proudly became a U.S citizen. He currently serves as a correction officer in Roanoke.