As a result of a chronic and deteriorating dental condition, I recently completed a long process of prosthodontics. My prosthodontics journey – after much planning and measuring – began in earnest with computer assisted oral surgery five days before last Easter! After nearly nine months of an initial liquid and then graduation to a soft diet, I now have a complete set of permanently installed, zirconia ceramic material teeth fixed to implants on both the top and bottom jawbone. I am told that the zirconia ceramic material teeth will last forever.
I have been thinking about the promise of teeth that last forever. Among other things, this means that one day into the future – a future that I hope is still a long way off – when all that remains of my earthly self are cremains in an urn, my zirconia ceramic material teeth that withstand temperatures above 4,892 degrees Fahrenheit will remain intact (unless removed as a weird keepsake) among the ashes of my bone fragments. A zirconia ceramic grin forever.
But all that aside, is there anything beyond the bone fragments of our lives that lasts forever? What about our personality? What about the qualities and characteristics which identify ‘us’? What about our learnings, our contributions to the family fabric or the social fabric of which we are a part? Does any of this last? Does any of the essence of ‘us’ go on or live on?
It is certainly clear that many of the things in which we have invested our time and energies are transitory. I can look back on many things in which I was once involved and for which I had a passion to see realized, go in other directions. The realization of things which prove transitory and pass away is sometimes not easy to bear.
But, what about us? What about me? What about you? Do we live on or are we just another part of what is transitory? And, if there is part of us that lives on, and in a very real sense travels on, what exactly is that part?
There are those – and there have always been those – who say that a person lives on in the memories of those who remain. Okay. That is an important thought to ponder and perhaps in which to hope. But the memories of those who remain fade. The memories of those who remain as the generations pass become ever more diminishing thoughts. Our immediate family may hold us in mind and heart but then comes the day when the memory of us is just a line in some family history that may be accessed by some descendant who casually one day “looks us up.” But again, what about the essence of me, the essence of you? Does that essence, our soul, go on?
There are those – and there have always been those – who say that believing that there is an eternal nature to our lives is “just wishful thinking.” When we breathe our last breath, it is all over. Our life is just…well, done. Such voices say, “So get hold of reality. Stop being delusional. Make certain that the life you now have is lived well. Because what you see is what you get and for better or worse, what you see is ALL that you get.”
I find it impossible to grasp the idea that one day our consciousness just ends. I find it impossible to grasp the thought that human curiosity, human wonder, human study, human preparation, human genius, human discovery, human intelligence, human relationships, human achievement, and the human experience of inspiration as well as the capacity to love is just … well, human and one day just over.
All the world’s faith traditions are rooted in the experienced affirmation that while there is much about us and the world around us that is transitory, there is far more to us than now meets the eye. All the world’s faith traditions are rooted in the experienced affirmation that life is purposeful, not accidental. All the world’s faith traditions are rooted in the experienced affirmation that we are immersed in wonders and mysteries that reveal we are on a great journey where the travelled roads are as meaningful as an unseen but hoped for destination.
Is this wishful thinking?
I think it to be life-enriching thinking. I cannot be content to think that ultimately there is only a daily version of nothing more than news, weather, and sports.
What lasts? There are ancient scriptures which offer an “answer.” There are all sorts of human orthodoxies which seek to regulate or evaluate the various efficacies of types of wishful thinking. There are even too many of us humans who are certain of whose wishful thinking is rewarded and whose thoughts – or lack of wishful thoughts – are damned. To think about such things is to waste brain cells.
Here is what I think.
I think that even though it is true that our lives are just a moment in time, there are three things in life that last. There is faith. There is hope. And there is love. But of the three lasting things, the greatest is love. (Wishful thinker, Paul. I Corinthians 13:13)
I affirm great value in wishful thinking. And to be sure you and I don’t have to be careful what we wish for in such mental exercise.
My wishful thoughts are also these:
How does a moment last forever?
How does our happiness endure?
Through the darkest of our troubles
Love is beauty, love is pure.
Love pays no mind to desolation
It flows like a river through the soul
Protects, proceeds, and perseveres
And makes us whole.
Wishful thinkers, Tim Rice & Alan Menken
Amen!