Infinity and Beyond?

The concept of infinity, inarguably and understandably, is irresistable to the human animal. Given his brief conscious lifetime, the promise of eternity--in any conceivable guise--is the proverbial life raft adrift in a tractless ocean.

Given that we do not know what follows the "death" of our consciousness, and given that we have no recollection (Shirley McClain, pick up the white courtesy phone) of what, if anything, came before our earliest childhood memory, the idea of simply ceasing to be is not one we can intellectualize.

As a species we are famously unwilling to be patient and wait, or seek to learn for ourselves, Answers to the Big Questions. And high on that list is the question of "what happens to me after I die?" Instead, for a myriad of reasons, we have resolutely set about filling in the blanks: reincarnation, religion ... the list is well known.

For many, filling in the blanks in such ways IS the proverbial life raft. I have always found that personally unsatisfying. To me, half the fun in life has come in declining the safe harbor and, instead, swimming with the currents ... attuned to my physical senses, listening to thoughts competing for place in my mind, keenly aware that there is uncertainty--even death--all around me.

I have no death wish, but nothing makes me feel more alive than remembering, every single day, that THIS moment, here and now, is the only thing I can and likely will ever truly Know. The future is a blank slate. And memory, while precious, is at best an impressionist painting morphing over time.

Will I experience "something else" after death? Maybe, maybe not. Kinda doubt it, but as a confirmed agnostic I'm open to any possibility. Meanwhile, give me an good strong current to ride over safe harbor any day of the week.

Twice on Sunday.