Tonight is why. We don’t get anything beyond the light that flushes our morning eyes. One day there will be no light, no life. There’s a river and in a moment the river is gone behind the mountain. We get only a few moments in the history of man; our great sorrow is knowing there’s no purpose but to breathe, be loved, be hated, and die in obscurity into oblivion. But now we live another day, most of us. There is only God in life, a life force, and there’s no need for God in death. It Is the gift of life, but you waste the day and wish for eons after death. You’ve given up. Tomorrow you can see light again and change the days you have – you’re free to do so. You won’t because it’s a waste of time, but what’s the more horrid waste – a life of some control, or a life adrift and aimless. You have 3650 days left – which option is more fruitful? Choosing a certain path, or aimlessness? Steering toward an island, or barely keeping afloat for 10 years?

There is no afterlife. But God is light and God and heaven are here now; God is life and heaven is living. You want ice cream, get ice cream today. You want love – find it. Don’t blame the aging body or the mental anguish. Live and make this heaven – there is no other. Here you love and lose, but you love if you choose love. Live the light, live the light of dreams in night. All are yours for the precious 365 days. Your gift is your Choice, and the light to live it. Even if there be one day left, live it. LIVE IT! ACT!

But you won’t. You’ll mourn the death of yesterday and the oblivion because it’s easier to mourn than to live. There is no death, there is always death. Your yesterday died. Today and tomorrow live as long as you choose to live here in paradise. Then the light goes out and you are no more. a crestfallen wave. I have one year, ten years, twenty years left. Or two days. I’ve lost so many acquaintances, but very few that were close. What I really lose is the joy of having them to touch. But we all must go. We all must go. We all must lose the light one day.

I am grateful for 60 years. I can go now, and I did what I could do. If I was to do something more I would have. But I have always lived, always loved the light and opportunity. I’ve lived heaven and hell, ecstasy and horror, as you have. One day great, the next dismal. The light doesn’t know – it just illuminates your eyes another day. You choose every step from the morning footfall to the evening repose. THAT is your gift, you can have heaven on earth, or choose hell.  The choice is the gift.

There is nothing after the final day of light. And those who mourn you and wish an afterlife will soon find their last day also, and they’ll mourn and wish no more. Sadness is hell for the living, so you suffer here in heaven. Some let it fade, some cling to it. Then one day they have their last light. Each friend I know will die before or after me. My lifelong lover and truest friend will die before or after, as will my children and mother and brother. There is no one else I care about – I choose my world and my lovers. We should know that we choose to share some of the day with each other – we give them the gift of some of our limited time.

Our gods help us to live. We find strength in prayer, then Act with conviction and the life energy we’re blessed with each morning. Each day our gift, and the choice to live it well.

I hate death, but don’t fight it. Loss is sadness. Then soon I will die. But if I’m blessed with light tomorrow I can choose to live fully, for tomorrow may be my last light. Nothing extraordinary, just live knowing I can die tomorrow in the dark. I won’t know it when it comes, so why fear it? I won’t even hear their sobs. So why waste another day?