Finding Eternal Hope in Mortal Life

The greatest adventure is discovering how we could possibly be an eternal spirit-being, or soul, experiencing a mortal life.

The greatest joy and hope is letting go of so much of our fears and doubts about life, because we accept it will be temporary, and limited, but we are neither.

The most wonderful thing to look forward to while alive, is the day we'll wake up, and think, "Wow, what a neat dream that was!" and then find out we lived that dream here, and when it was over, we awoke, and found something greater, better, and somehow, all that this dream seems to be missing.

In the end, our real world is missing so much. So much is left out, so much is lacking, so much is incomplete. That so much is what we left behind, and we often live throughout life complaining that we didn't want to come here, and didn't want to leave all of that behind. Yes we did, who are we kidding? Ourselves, actually. But oh wait, here's the kicker. Yes we left it all. We went camping, leaving our mansion of wonders and joys beyond compare. We came out here, set camp, in the swamp, during the rainy season, fighting mosquitos and slowly starving because the fish don't bite when it rains. We not only came down here, we volunteered. Still, like they say, this little adventure will leave us with a deeper appreciation of all we left, when we get back. So suck it up, grit your teeth, and bear it out. Fight for your right to stay as long as you can, and endure all you can. After all, whether four years, or forty, or four hundred, as far as we can tell, it will eventually come to an end. Nobody has survived on this side of the 'veil'. Everyone who 'survived' and 'beat death' actually went to the other side, just like we will. They may not have had to suffer during that transformation, and for many of us, we may not have to suffer either. But in the end, they all went to the same place, where we'll go. Of course, some of us will come back, or perhaps go somewhere else, not earth but some place similar, to learn other lessons about how much we are capable of doing, and enduring. In the end though, the story is basically the same. We are prodigal sons, down here in the slums of the city, trying to have a good time and all the time missing our father's house. But in the end, let's not get too caught up in the end of the story. We won't enjoy returning home, until we run completely out of our personal 'inheritance' while away from home. Even then we should try to make the best of a bad situation. Look for work, try to find a job that pays the bills, and lets you eat without having to steal food from the company. After all, what we always can use more of, is different perspectives. Alternative ways to look at every situation. Only when we see them all, are we ready to move on to the next situation. Of course, eventually, when we tire of this game, and those watching over us know we won't learn any more from it, will we be reminded this isn't our home. Although for some of us, me included, I'm here to play this game to the end, and only after I see the clouds spell "game over" will I know it's time to shut everything down, and return to the 'real world'. Of course, I know its a game. That's part of what makes it funner for me, and it gives me hope that no matter what happens, it'll work out all right.

So here's to the Eternal, the Hope of all men, that we are more than mere mortals, but eternal souls having a 'mortal moment'. May we all wake up to realize we certainly put ourselves into the game, and won all the eternal treasures we deserve. Although, I'm sure many of us wish we could win a few more to enjoy here, before it's over!