As 2020 comes to an end, I cannot help but reflect on how much society is prepared to give up for fear of death. We have become a society of cowards. I have been quite shocked at how quickly we comply and acquiesce to the unthinkable; the loss of our freedom. How can we give up our most fundamental right? Our most precious endowment? That, for which our ancestors fought and died, we are giving up willingly in the name of what? A little safety?
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Those who give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” and are bound to lose both. I could not agree more.
I have always thought of life as a gift; a wonderful experiential journey of discovery, creation, evolution, transformation and connection. A chance to be what we were meant to be; to shine, to give and to touch the life of others. But when we are not prepared to fight for life as it was given to us, then maybe we do not deserve this gift. As we hold on to life at all cost, we are in fact disrespecting and rejecting life itself as it was intended. We are holding on to life at the cost of life itself.
Is a life of separation, isolation and total control, a life worth living? An existence where hugging, kissing, singing, or dancing are forbidden? Where speech is censored? Where neighbours call the police on you because you invited one too many people? A life where you have no freedom of thought, speech or movement? Where you are constantly tracked and watched? In other words, is it worth living a life where being human is not allowed? What are we so afraid of that we are prepared to give up everything? Death? Why are we so afraid of death?
Once more, the problem is, that we forgot who we are, because if we remembered, we would not be afraid of death and we would therefore fight for life. If we remembered, we would know that we are infinite souls having a physical experience. If we remembered, we would know that death is not the end, but rather a return to where we came from. If we remembered, we would know that life is indeed a gift from God to be lived to its fullest expression of love, light and freedom, a gift to be maintained as it was given, a gift to fight for, a gift to die for. If we remembered who we are, we would never acquiesce to those whose full intent is to make us forget in the first place. If we remembered, we would know better than to subject ourselves to the will of others. If we remembered, we would know only to obey the will of God. If we remembered, we would not be in the situation we are in.
So, when it comes to freedom vs death, and because I remember who I am, I agree with Bob Marley’s words; “Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner all the days of your life.”