Taylor: A worm amid tombstones
Black metal spears, their tips pointed skyward, line Grove Street in legions. They form a fence, and behind them are graves. One might wonder, trudging along the sidewalk, what invisible army it is that holds these spears. One might feel grateful that they protect us from the dead.
On occasion, though, it is well to seek out the dead, to convene with their humble silence. More perspective, as it is called, can perhaps be gleaned from an hour in the cemetery than from a whole semester abroad. England and China have their charms, but in a cemetery you are looking at your certain...
"Remember man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return."
"You are what we once were. We are what you will be."
1 Corinthians 15
(from: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15&version=NIV)
Verse 55-57:
55" 'Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?' 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
In case you wanted a Biblical back-up for the Christian thought/teachings about eternity referred to in this article.
Sweet article, by the way! It's interesting that you mentioned how most people avoid thinking about these issues by busying themselves to suppress the innate tug-at-the-heart that tells them such questions of death and after-life can not be evaded. In class, you can try not studying for the scary pop quiz, but procrastination on your part doesn't mean that the quiz isn't going to happen. Probing for the answers of creation through the Creator should not be a scary, overwhelming task. Look around. The answer is blowin' in the wind. ;)
And thanks be to God that He gives us the answer so freely.
This is a well-written and thoughtful piece. Congratulations.