I really am glad that I don't know when my last day will be, because I think I'd be frustrated trying to do too much! It's a mercy knowing I have to live in the 'now' of God's will.
I cannot help but connect this idea of breath and its fleeting nature to the concept of appearance. False appearances were condemned by Socrates, but the fleetingness of life is not a condemnation of life like you said, but a recognition of life as less than ultimate. Life, barring false appearances, is contact with what is most real from the limiting perspective we occupy. Appearance can sometimes hide reality in a negative way, but it can also hide reality in a positive way. It can hide like a child hides when they want their parents to come find them with that moment of happiness and surprise. It can hide like a woman may play the game of show and go, the seduction of not fully revealing, but only giving glimpses. Enticement.
I really am glad that I don't know when my last day will be, because I think I'd be frustrated trying to do too much! It's a mercy knowing I have to live in the 'now' of God's will.
I cannot help but connect this idea of breath and its fleeting nature to the concept of appearance. False appearances were condemned by Socrates, but the fleetingness of life is not a condemnation of life like you said, but a recognition of life as less than ultimate. Life, barring false appearances, is contact with what is most real from the limiting perspective we occupy. Appearance can sometimes hide reality in a negative way, but it can also hide reality in a positive way. It can hide like a child hides when they want their parents to come find them with that moment of happiness and surprise. It can hide like a woman may play the game of show and go, the seduction of not fully revealing, but only giving glimpses. Enticement.