Are You Immortal?

Ancient mythology suggests that the way to conquer death, and thus become immortal, is by becoming an Olympian.  Is that true?

Here we are in the season of the 2014 Winter Olympics.  We are told that a Gold Medal is a “life changer” and worth a lot of money.  The (gold) medal itself has a fluctuating value of $550, but along with the Gold Medal is a cash prize of $25,000. Life changer?  Maybe.  Immortal?  Be serious!

Look at it this way.  The notoriety that comes with winning an Olympic medal puts you in the record book for all time.  There you will be For All Time.  Forever and ever!  Wow!  How good is that?  Hmm.

But what about right now?  Can that win become a platform for greater things? Of course.  There are plenty of examples of athletes winning and going on to other high visibility things, some good and some not so much.  But what about all those athletes who fall one second short or a fraction of a point less than winning.  They say that even losers are Olympians by virtue of making their country’s team.  That would make them immortals, right?

Those ancient Greeks would say, “Why, yes they are!”  Immortality is theirs.  Really?

What does it take to become immortal in our day and age, totally apart from the Olympics and making those teams? Is it possible?  Does it really matter?  Does it matter to you?

Walter Hooper is a scholar who has studied C. S. Lewis’ life and writings.  He states that “Lewis’s central theme was that all men and women are immortals! “  C. S. Lewis said that!  Wow!

Simply stated, Lewis believed that all of us have one or two destinations, and all day long “we are helping each other to one or the other of these destinations.”  He goes on to say that “we should conduct all our dealing with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics” every aspect of our lives as matters that influence our final destination.  Lewis believes that each one of us are immortal, all those we joke with, work with, marry, snub, exploit, treat with contempt, love, discriminate against, etc.  All of us will arrive at our destination as either “immortal horrors or everlasting splendors”.

So.  Are you Immortal?  Interesting question. None of us will know the answer until such time as we KNOW the answer.  You are on your way and only you can choose a direction.  What do you believe?  What do you have faith in?  How does that influence your direction?  How does that influence the way you conduct your life?

Something to think about…

-30-