I have been a fan of the Highlander movies and especially the TV show for years. It’s classic “good vs. evil” stuff, with an immortal modern vs. ancient twist. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend that you check it out.
For anyone who has no idea what it is about, here are the basics:
There are a group of “immortals” who are humans here on earth, just like the rest of us. They live forever, but they are constantly battling each other for “the prize”. The prize is all of the knowledge that man has accumulated literally since the dawn of time, and these immortals can be killed in only one way:
To quote the {ahem} immortal words of Sean Connery in the very first Highlander movie, “If your head comes away from your shoulders, it’s over.”
So, these immortals cannot die unless their head is cut off, at which time all of their knowledge and experience is then transmitted to the immortal who did so – in a spectacular display of lightning and explosions, I might add.
Pretty cool, right? You cut off someone’s head and you gain all of their knowledge and experience!
Yeah, okay. Actually it’s pretty barbaric, but I assure you, the Highlander franchise has style, especially the TV series, with actor Adrian Paul playing the part of our favorite good guy immortal, Duncan McLeod (of the clan McLeod).
So, other than my obvious enjoyment of the Highlander saga, what does any of this have to do with personal growth and development? 2 things, actually:
1) Consider the question of living forever. Assuming it was possible – but only for you and a handful of others (who you don’t get to pick) – would you do it?
On one hand, you get to live forever, and since time is not an issue, you can learn and experience everything and anything with absolutely no constraints, since there will always be more time.
On the other hand, since you don’t get to pick the handful of other “immortals,” the people that you love and care about will die. It’s not a question of “if,” but rather a question of when and how.
A morbid concept for a personal development blog? Not when you think about it from the point of view of considering how much your life is about you vs. how much your life is defined by the people around you.
2) If you chose the fact that you DID want to live forever, what would you do? I mean, everyone has hobbies that they would like to spend more time on, but an immortal would certainly be able to do something more constructive than reading more books or taking more naps. So, what would you do?
If you would NOT want to live forever, then ask yourself this question:
“Am I living my life like the clock is ticking and every moment is literally gone forever, never to come again?”
Oh, and one more thing. One of the members over at Personal Development Partners has contributed in a thought-provoking way to many conversations, and I am so very grateful to have gotten to know him.
His username over at at PDP is FloridaAviator, and with regard to his personal development journey, he had this to say:
“Making decisions based upon a compass to guide me instead of a clock to bind me has been a very enlightening and powerful revelation.”
Dave, I know I grabbed your quote without first asking for permission, but, to be honest, that is great stuff, and I wanted to share it with the world. My compass told me to share your wisdom, and I want to thank you once again for putting forth such a profound concept.
You, sir, are the man.
By the way, this post was inspired by nothing less than me hearing the theme song to the Highlander franchise, and it is SO worth a listen. The song is performed by Queen, and is called Who Wants to Live Forever?
I am legally obligated to tell you that you are not allowed to keep this file. I am morally obligated to tell you that I really don’t care what you do with it, as long as you gained at least one moment of introspection from your time here today.
Queen – Who Wants to Live Forever?
p.s. – This idea is very much open to conversation in the comments section below, or over at Personal Development Partners. And my answer to the question of living forever? Oh, I think you know!
I would definitely NOT want to live forever.
Your post reminded me of a quotation:
“Millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon.” (Susan Ertz)
Now, I *do* know what to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon — I keep quite busy all the time, in fact — but I don’t think I would be as motivated to do anything today if I knew I had infinite tomorrows, and if I wasn’t adding value to the world, I don’t think my perpetual existence would be in anyone’s best interest. I would also fear what the future would be like, and be very lonely without my loved ones.
I try to live each day like it’s my last, but I don’t always succeed. My goal right now is to get to a point where I do live like that, so I guess that’s a step in the right direction.
I also have this posted above my alarm clock:
“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day
to use as you will… You can waste it or use it for good. What you do
today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In it’s place is
something you have left behind… Let it be something good” (Anonymous)
If we accept that we are all part of the same Source Energy, which has no time.. then we are eternal, either we like it or not.
The good 😉 thing is that we forget everything every 80 years and it looks as if we are starting all over again.
Would I like to be eternal and remember it? Well… YES, counting on my keeping good physical and mental health all the way, because in order to be happy, I can’t be short-sighted, deaf or unable to walk.
What would I do with eternal time? Mostly the same I do now but more: I’d read more books, I’d meet more people, I’d draw and paint more horrible pictures, I’d learn to sing well, I’d learn to play every musical instrument, I’d learn to speak very language, I’d go to more concerts, I’d swim more.
Patricia
p.s. The eternal ‘human’ quality claimed on PD’s books is the only part that my intellect has a hard time believing. 🙂
Ups! I forgot!
I agree that FloridaAviator’s quote is great! Thanks for highlighting it!
Everytime I think of this question, I remember the comical yet dark movie Death Becomes Her. It is frightening to live forever under those circumstances, so I think the answer to that question, for me at least, may depend on the circumstances.
I don’t know too many women who would be able to appreciate the Highlander Saga…but that could just be the ladies that I am hanging around with…if I did not age, I think it would be pretty groovy, except for seeing all your loved ones die…that would bite.
YES I DO!
The Human condition as it is now is unacceptable!
We live too short a span, we are FAR too fragile(illness, killed or crippled by almost anything)!
Hell, we only start living by age 30 or 40 (after learning some things and getting established).
So sign me up if there is an alternative!
With good health and good mental acuity, I’d take it. I’m not sure about the whole head cutting off, always looking over my shoulder part though.
I’m also a fan of the Highlander series and I always wondered that myself. I’ve recently started assessing my day based on how much in order my life was. Have I done everything that I could possibly do that I want to do? In other words, did take the opportunities presented to me today? Am I good with my family and friends? Do I hold any ill-will toward anyone? If I’m good on those things I feel like I’m living life to the fullest. I could get struck by a bus or lightning and I would feel as though I lived. I couldn’t always say that.
In Spirit,
Nneka
Yeah…I would want to live forever. Sorry, it’s still not a hard choice for me. To see the entire progression of the world and its people. Wow.
Oh and you could go around all super-badass with a motorcycle and katana if you felt so inclined. I couldn’t post without adding that in, my bad.
My answer is simple, no. I would not want to live forever and have to watch those I love die around me.
If I wouldn’t grow older and weaker I’d definitely go for immortality, ok so everyone I know will die, but then again I couldn’t stand being with the same person for an eternity, I’d probably go insane after a couple of hundred years.
As for what I would do, I would do the same things I do now, only have them last longer.
But really, immortality is overrated, quality over quantity.
I’d actually have time to get to everything I want to do. I’d probably be a nicer person in public because I wouldn’t be inconvenienced by people lacking my sense of urgency.
Besides, even if you got bored with it, who wouldn’t want to hang around a few hundred years?
Regarding the Marina’s Susan Ertz quotation – I don’t know what to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon and I long for immortality *because* of that. My lifetime is finite and that day spent bored doing nothing is one day pointlessly gone. But on top of that I think of all the hours, days and years lost not because of my actions but because of external sources that I will never regain.
Would I take immortality even though I can’t always fill my days now? Probably. But only if there were a way that I could choose to end it.
I’d go for it in an instant. Immortality changes every rule. Deciding to give another person the benefit of the doubt will pay interest over an infinite time, and we all know the algebra of such investment.
Hey, you are IMMORTAL, you just don’t remember… It is amazing how much we forget who we really are… But don’t take my word for it, Look up Dr. Michael Newton on Google and hold on to your hat..
Jim
Missed a spot:
The only downside to the first scenario is losing those close to you as they age and die. Well, relationships _end_. It’s what they do. One way or another. So, that said, it’s simply part of the human condition to experience loss.
In reality, we’ve a very strong chance of medicine being able to reverse aging within our lifetime. This would negate death due to natural causes, but only that, it doesn’t make you indestructible.
Arguments against this type of medical tech include overpopulation and starvations, pollution due to the industrial needs of so many people, and the “you’ll get bored” routine.
For: Never getting sick again. Never waking up and having every joint creak until you get moving. Here’s a big one: no longer losing 100,000 of the most experienced individuals every month. Why is it, do you suppose, that the elderly don’t participate much in the rest of society? For the most part, as people age, they do more and contribute more due to the increase in skill and knowledge, but past a certain point the participation falls off. (I am generalizing here, please do not take offense) The biggest reason is inability to keep up due to physical degradation. How much more would the great minds of our time produced if they hadn’t grown old and feeble? Hell, sometimes it’s not even the mind, but the body, with reduced ability to fight infection and whatnot.
The reality of what’s possible is far above and beyond simple age reversal, and would likely surprise and shock many people.
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been teaching that “You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth” for many decades, based upon their interpretation of certain scriptures about the resurrection. I used to be a JW, and think it would be great to live forever, if you also had good health and happiness. But in our dismal world, with wars, pollution, disease and hunger, we have no idea what true health or true happiness is.
However, neither do the Witnesses, and I do not state this as any recommendation that anyone start a Bible study with them – they are a cult for sure, even though they deny it, and have distorted historical and Biblical facts to suit their beliefs, at the expense of their followers.
Still, living forever would be cool, on a restored paradise Earth. And I never subscribed to the view that it will only be JWs that get to do this. There will be millions who will…
I would add that we all are already immortal in some sort of way, at least those who have an offspring. Because when we die, our way of living and thinking is still alive in them, as much as we can transmit to them the best part of it.
ummm…if i choose no do i get to die now without haveing to do it myself.. meh..but seriously…iuf everybody had that choice ya know the tyrants and the most evil would rise in power even more then they have already… if that were possible… i meen, i surely wouldnt want to live in a world with an immortal George Bush (either of those demons) or Alan greenspan, or an enternal dick cheney? naw..i wouldnt want to live forever in that world…
Can I choose to die whenever I want, or is it true immortality?
Because true immortality would probably suck after 250,000,000,000 years.
The biggest thing everyone seems to be neglecting is that you live FOREVER. Meaning eventually the sun will explode, the solar system will cease to exist. What would you do then? You’d probably be bored and have nothing to do, for about 100 trillion (earth) years until you found another civilization or something to do. That is the real concern and reason why I can’t imagine anyone would want to be immortal.
Well, given that we are approaching a technological level of development in which immortality is possible, I actually do plan on living forever. I want to explore the universe as well as do things like read more and learn to draw (I suck LOL.)
Yes….I would want too. I love my family, I love my friends.
That being said, I also love knowledge, and I wish I had time to do everything (and I mean this quite literally). I am a smart guy (and modest too!), and have been cursed with a love for so many fields of practice/knowledge.
I love Science. All of them. Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and the subcategories.
I love math, I love the problem sovling and formulas and functions
I love philosophy, thinking, logic, and reason.
I love Physical Activity, and practice Martial Arts (various).
yes. I would love to live forever….Progress in different scientific fields would give me something to do for at least a couple hundred millenia, as would mathmatical advancement.
My love for the physical would take me a long time to master. All martial arts styles, all skills, to be in perfect condition.
Nevermind the good that one could do for other people as an immortal. You would eventually become Very wealthy, and be able to share such wealth, and you would become very powerful, allowing you to help people where others can not.
All in all, Yes….I would like to Live forever (though the option of decapitation is definitely welcome…if I…you know…ever get bored.)
To me this is the pentultimate question and best answered empirically based on your own ideas. Do not be swayed by others thoughts on this one, there are people out there that want your money and soul for this.
What do you want to take to eternity with you? Your memories, experiences, loves and friends?
Does it come down to egotistical desire?
Interesting discussion and one that strikes close to my heart, since my philosophy is called The Power of Mortality™.
Here’s my question to everyone…
Let’s assume for a second that you are completely free to choose to be immortal or mortal.
HOW WOULD YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE CHANGE? What would you do differently?
You see, I maintain that the VAST majority of us already live our lives as though we are immortal. We seem to think that we have an unlimited amount, or at least that we’ll be given have ‘enough’ time.
Here’s another question to think about…
What if you just found out that today was your last day alive?
It’s very simple no. Who wants to work forever? You gotta remember paying bills sucks.
I am absessed with living forever, or at least squeesing as many years out as i can, it takes us years and years to mature into a truly balanced and worthwhile human being, then we spend 10 or 20 years as an interesting being and then its off to the retirement home for us. So for someone focused on self improvement living forever would be a blessing, but could be wasted on a lot of the get drunk every friday and saturday of the year watch sports on tv and work crowd.
I toasted to perpetual self improvement at a party and the woman in front of me said she was already perfect, will i miss these people when they die? No, besides, so many members of our society have disposable friends anyway, military families have friends wherever they are posted, everyone moves houses, loses good friends, gains new ones.
And you would outgrow human contact within a few hundred years, keeping contact with scholars only as anything less will be of no itnerest to you.
Alright, personally, immortality sounds great to me, well as long as i can end my life the day i decide i’ve lived long enough. Currently our lifespans are too short for us to experience the multitude of things that there are for us to do even on our planet, let alone the number of things we could do once we leave this rock in space.
I would like a few thousand years to do everything, from being a bartender to being an astronaut out in space and whatnot. We have so many options, and yes, we would at times sit indoors while it’s raining and be bored, but that’s another one of those experiences without which i think a life is incomplete.
Immortality is great as long as 1. you don’t age (like the immortals in highlander) 2. you don’t get sick (like the immortals in highlander) 3. you get to off yourself the day you decide you’re done with it all and really, that’s all that matters. As for “everyone you love dies”, what’s so different in normal life? how often do we not lose people we care for? people we love? they always come and go and we move on and so would an immortal.
I absolutely would not want to PHYSICALLY live forever, but my spiritual beliefs are such that I believe that my soul is eternal. I am very grateful to that.
But, as the title of my blog alludes to, I try to live my life while trying as best I can to appreciate “every, every minute.”
Live forever? Hell, yes! Whatever it takes, in whatever form. As long as my conciousness remained intact, bring it on. Yes, those I care for would age and die but I would able to guide and protect their legacy through the ages.
I would live for ever, and since I could not chose who to live with, I would strive to make the world a place that I would like to hang out with anybody.
I would be willing to live forever. There is so much to see and learn – I would love it.
Living forever just to experience all the ‘good’ things in life is ridiculous; anyone who has lived at least until adulthood has learned that most things they considered cool/interesting as a kid is now dull….the experience EVENTUALLY loses its emotional association and just becomes fact….it happened. Period. Whatever.
You’ve drank a cup of tea 5 billion times…you’ve seen and heard people say stupid things for thousands of years – and it isn’t getting any better….get where I’m going with this?
If a man is 55, he could in theory go back to college, get a PhD and begin a new career in a different field. The problem is that he would be ready to retire soon after he got the degree, so the degree wouldn’t do him any good. With a longer life span, it becomes more practical to do that. There are investment advantages.
With absolute infinity, you would eventually run out of things to do. I would say yes to immortality. I might regret that decision a million years from now, but I would have thousands of years to ponder that issue.
I’d disagree with Patricia respectfully.
My being is defined by my memories. The human being is much more than the substance that is our bodies or the energies that move us. The things I have done, the people I have met, the memories I have and share with those around me is who I am. If I were to forget all of these things then I’d be someone else.
Now you might say, “Then are you the same person you were 5 minutes ago? You have 5 minutes worth of new memories”. And indeed that would be correct. Each day, every passing moment, there is a new me though what they all have in common is the common experience. The most recent revision of me is the culmination and reinvention of the previous me, making each moment more special than the last. Were all those previous me’s to be obliterated then something that is greater than the sum of all it’s parts would cease to be and could never be again.
THAT is the sad part. Not that one dies, but that they can never be again.
If I was immortal I would learn as much as I can and create A.I, then have my A.I help me unlock the secrets of the universe, such space travel, inter dimensional exploration, uploading the human consciousness to robotics etc.
everyone’s so afraid of death, yet nobody wants to live forever
Yes … make that: Hell Yes!!!
I do not have enough time in my life to do everything I want to do. I travel extensively since I am a sailor yet I already know that tehre is no chance I will be able to experience all the places I want to see. And no, hopping into a place, looking around for a day or even a week does not count … that’s tourism and most people have no clue where they just were.
I have pondered this question a few years ago, since teh theme seems to come up in sci-fi and fantasy novels every now and then. Most advise against it quoting boredom or ‘being tired of humans’ or some other banal bullshit. To those I say you have no imagination … just think of the possibilities.
You could find out what’s on the bottom of the Mariana trench … how it looks inside a volcano, inside a storm cloud … and if you really get bored of this earth – strap yourself to some crudely made rocket and go off to explore space … you’ll have time.
Without hardly having to think I can come up with about 1000 years worth of entertainment for myself here on earth … but somehow I doubt the TV programming is going to be any better by then.
Afaflix
I would very much like to live forever. when offered immortality each of you first think how it would affect you and your lives, not one of you thought what good you may provide for others or how you may progress humanity.
given infinite time and (near enough) infinite resources, one could research the human condition, cure cancer or end world hunger. given that you would not have to pass your knowledge on for it to continue since you would survive to complete it.
the selfless act would be to bare this burden and offer your mortality in exchange for a little insight into what it means to be forever.
ironically, i would die for it.
Even though it would probably be a bitter-sweet experience, living for ever is very tempting.
As mortals we live in a race against the clock, which forces us to chose a determined path to follow, in the sense that you have to choose one career, one line of work, one location to live (not necessarily one but you get the picture) where there are infinitely many choices for you to pick.
Living for ever would give you a chance to live different possible paths.
Then there’s the things that you know you will not live to see, there are so many things invested in the future, space expo, technology, socio-political developments and it’s kinda disappointing to know you will not live to see some things.
Although I do agree that the time limit makes compels us to take action, it would be tempting to see what is behind door number 1, 2, 3, 4,5…
I would hate to live forever because death is the destination, life is the journey and you must enjoy the journey and not the destination but without a place to go how do you enjoy the trip? ie there is no life without death.
However I would love one reset button to go back to a point in my life and try again. Everyone has one of those and it would make all the difference in the world because on this trip there is no U-turns or reverse.
Aubrey de Grey is a marvelous researcher on the topic of immortality. If you want to contribute to such research, donate to the Methuselah Mouse Prize!
https://www.mprize.org
Actually, the only really scary thing about true immortality is Evolution.
I used to think immortality would suck for a manic depressive… forever is a long time to think life sucks. But in reality, we’d ALL find something to keep us happy and occupied.
But Evolution is the bummer. Mankind did not always look like we look now. If you went back in time to the age of cavemen… would they find you attractive? Or shun you as a retard? Now go forwards. At some point, man will continue to Evolve, but you will not. At some point you will become the ugly duckling. The different one. Can you imagine living in a world where you’re the only person considered deformed?
Now THAT is scary.
We have beganing but no end We will live forever but not here when everyone is tested and his/her time is over they will go to Paradise or hell.I really living forever on earth is not good unless the parson was heading hell maybe that person may want to live on earth for ever or he/she never existed. Living forever on earth is not fun Living in paradise forever is great and the real purpose of life. so Earn the creator’s pleasure to live forever in paradise.
Simone de Beauvoir, a French existentialist writer and philosopher wrote a quite thought provoking, deep book titled “All Men Are Mortal” about this topic in 1946. It’s a great read (imo), which, I think, may have inspired the creators of the Highlander series as well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Men_are_Mortal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_de_Beauvoir
Basically you would spend all of your time working out ways to stay hidden, the minute people around you realize you can live forever they will all want to take you apart to find out how? So realistically you’d get 20 -30 years before people worked out you went getting any older. plus, how do you transfer money to yourself without the tax man wondering why you still exist…. sounds like hard work and a lot of stress.
I’d probably take immortality, given the option.
As for what I’d do, I’d first get everything in order in my personal life, pay off my current debts and whatnot.
Then, I’d work enough to seriously go back to school, and get doctorates in just about every field of study that can be used to improve human life. Medicine, chemistry, engineering, law, philosophy, I’d learn it all and go out and do it. I’m sure with centuries to learn and work I could get laws enacted that would be fair, just, and make the world a better place. Knowing not only how to operate to save someones life, but also the chemicals that make up modern medicine and how the affect the human body would probably give me an edge as a doctor. With all the time in the world, building houses that can stand up to all the natural disasters would become a possibility. When all this is said and done I’d probably let myself become a test subject for science, just for fun. I’d probably also look into ways to extend the suns life and rejuvenate the earth so that everyone can keep living long and happy lives here.
People will tired living forever and doing same things, that time they will need eternal sleep.
I am stunned by how interconnected all human endeavor really is, at the base of things, and in the most unexpected ways. I am appalled that I must spend so much of my time simply ensuring my basic survival and the survival of those who depend on me.
If I knew I was going to live forever, I would begin exploring. So much to know – so much to explore. And so much to be done – with that kind of time frame in which to work, one could accomplish very great works indeed and change countless lives for the better.
Even the universe is not for ever for it will eventually succomb to entropy. But I think a good 10,000 year stint of life would be more then enough for me.
The thing is, we actually DON’T live forever. You point out that living forever means “seeing those you love, die”, yet living in any way may still mean “seeing those you love, die”. It also means that we will die–even though we think it may come around the age of 80-something, it may come at any time. Who actually expects death before it comes?
So a good point to set across would be to cherish all those around us that we love, while they are still here. And while we’re at it, freeing ourselves from our constraints in order to realize that we have only a limited amount of time on this earth to experience what we want or can.
How many of the people answering this and saying that they do not want to live forever hold a religious belief that they are in fact going to live for ever once they have died? What do you plan to do with all that time? How will you grow? What will you achieve?
Personally I’d take living forever in reality over dying for something far less concrete and certainly less open to personal exploration. I would accept living forever in a state of complete paralysis over dying. I would use the time to think and to the best of my abilities explore. Existing is fascinating. I choose to remain fascinated.
As for the loss of family members and loved ones, it is obvious to me that you will eventually get over it. Not even the most limited mind would be able to sulk forever and of course there is the potential to have literally billions of loves and worthwhile relationships if you are fortunate enough to have the time.
I’d choose to live a lot longer than normal, but not forever. Living forever means eventually the entire universe will die out, while you’re floating around in total darkness. No thanks.
I love the highlander series. I would love to live forever.
I could really relax as there WOULD always be tomorrow. Hell I could spend a lifetime just kicking back. Then spend my next lifetime catching up and getting everything done from the last century.
Money would not be a problem as eventually even crappy investments would pay off.
I always did think there was something wrong with spending your life getting to a point where you really do know a thing or two and then having to check out.
I could go on and on. I hate the urgency of life. I really do just get to everything as I can and do not worry about much. Drives my wife crazy as she worries about everything.
I just turned 49 and look like I am 35 because I just don’t worry about things I cant do anything about.
Wish I had more time to live life and enjoy all the things I will not have time to get to in this lifetime.
###
FloridaAviator:
“Making decisions based upon a compass to guide me instead of a clock to bind me has been a very enlightening and powerful revelation.”
But why does time go in a straight line and a compass leans in all directions?
I guess just to give us incentive to get off our butts and start exploring the many points of the compass before the straight line runs out! 🙂
Aaron:
Is
knows not time
There is no compass
beyond time
That of Is
knows time
And a compass, too
Nomad
Nomad,
Thanks for sharing that unique bit of poetry!
I’m trying to write a story about a woman that lives forever (in reality, her elegant form, and dark cat-like eyes, is already on the way out of this solar system: this is true). What would it be like to live forever? (… given this planet will no longer be.)
How do I write a story about a her? The woman that lives forever.
Any suggestions?
Nomad
Nomad,
That would entirely depend on the world that the author (you) wanted to create!
I’d say to use your imagination and play with the possibilities. When you aren’t limited by what people “know” to be true, then you aren’t limited at all.
Have some fun with it – that would be the best advice that I could give! 🙂
Why would anyone want to die? Doesn’t your life lose meaning if all your memories are gone? Who wants to be non existent, at any time?
Who wants to live to 150, just ask someone who is 149.
Scott,
That certainly depends on the person’s belief system. Many people (myself included) believe that we just transition from this plane to the next one where our knowledge is released and added to the greater whole.
On the other hand, I’m also one of those people who will be 149 and still planning my 150th birthday party! 🙂
Ah, here is the paradox. To be immortal is to be condemned to Hell itself. To be born, to live, and to die is paradise realized. What is life with out its joys, its passions, its trials and tribulations. What would one do with eternity? To know all and see all through out history and time forever. Ultimately you would pine for death, beg to have your memories erased, oh to start again fresh and new when the world is ripe for discovery!
I’ve often thought as God being life itself. To be self renewing, to experience all that encompasses being alive from the simple amoeba, to the flowering vine, to being human. So often we are taught that the reward for a moral life is the gift of eternal life. Yet we confuse this with living as our individual selves for all eternity. This is the mistake, for if God gives us a soul it is a piece of the power that expresses itself in all living things. To be cast out from paradise would be to be condemned forever to exist with out the possibility of death or renewal.
Why do the biblical angels cast out of heaven hate us so? Because they can no longer experience what it means to be truly alive, they envy us, oh do they weep for being condemned to eternal existence, the madness they must experience, the gnashing of teeth.
So my advice, do not pray for eternity, but realize that being alive is itself paradise, even with its pain and suffering. For even after death life springs eternal, and if your spark of life is renewed, perhaps you will live to see a another day, not as yourself, but new and ready to experience the process of living all over again.