Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

PANTHEON

Home
Pagan
Delphic Maxims: Think As A Mortal (Φρονει θνητα)

Delphic Maxims: Think As A Mortal (Φρονει θνητα)

Last updated on: June 28, 2012 at 3:58 pm by Star Foster

Delphic Maxims: Think As A Mortal (Φρονει θνητα) 2012-06-28T15:58:23-04:00 Star Foster

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I like this Maxim. In the world of religion we spend a lot of time trying to think like Gods and other generally incorporeal beings. How should one address an angel? If I were a sea nymph what kind of offering would I want? How does one evolve over centuries, through millennia and via various cultures? If one is Immortal, what does one want or need?

Sometimes I hear people talking about Aeons and Ages and the massive millennia long spiritual cogs of the Universe turning, and I sometimes wonder if they forget they have but a brief span on earth. We are seriously not here very long. Most of us won’t make it to 100, unless science proves me a liar. We have but a short span to live, love and do good work.

Sometimes I look at the lives of great artists and I’m fascinated by how they seemed to be in such a hurry. Michaelangelo was only 37 when he completed the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, and he’d produced a significant body of work before that. My ancestors also seemed to be in a bit of a rush. Though I’ve discovered no child brides, the women in my family married young and had several children. Many of the men married young as well. In consequence, most of them watched multiple generations of their descendants come into being and grow into adulthood.

This morning as I sit here sipping my coffee and pondering what it means to think as a mortal, I am struck at how differently we think today. We have built a culture around delaying our lives. We spend years in school delaying the beginning of building our prosperity and life’s work. We spend years dating instead of settling down quickly. We spend years studying and working before we have children. We work long hours. We spend hundreds of hours commuting rather than traveling. We put off retirement. We don’t take vacations.We say we will spend more time with friends and family next year.

What the hell are we waiting for? Do we not know life is short? Do we really think the work we’re doing in middle management is going to echo through the ages and bring glory to our name? Do we really think our lives are so secure that we can put off what makes us divinely human? Do we think we shall not die?

For me, to think like a human means recognizing that you only get one shot at this. Life is short. Sometimes tragically short. Medical advances may mean we’ll lead longer lives, but maybe not. Maybe we’ll get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Forget reincarnation. Forget the afterlife. None of that is our concern and it is certainly beyond our control. Focus on the life we are living now. This is the only chance we get at it. What do you want to have accomplished? What do you want to leave behind? What happiness do you want to claim for your own? Right now?

We are not immortal. We do not control the fates. We do not span aeons. We have to seize our opportunity, whatever it may be. Seize love as it comes our way. Use our fertility while we have it. Enjoy our bodies while they are in good health. Savor the beauty of the earth while we still have our senses. This life is a gift, but not one we can keep. We cannot put it on a shelf like fine brandy and save it for a special occasion. We have to use it now. We have to think as a mortal, and mortal lives are very short.

Previous Post

May 27, 2012

All About The Love: Congrats to the Wigglian Way!

Next Post

May 29, 2012 On Being Internet Famous: A Tip From Half Of Your Audience

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm is quoted by Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 22 Psalm 2 Psalm 34 Psalm 137