The Thinnest Thread
Two people died last week.
Of course, there were more who died than that.
Two people I know died this week. Or people I know of.
I hadn't met either of them before. They were friends of friends or family of friends. One was under 40 and killed in a car accident. Another died of COVID-19.
All death is a reminder of our inevitable fate.
Unexpected or premature death, even more so.
There's a line in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that references the mythical Sword of Damocles.
“Above, where seated in his tower,
I saw Conquest depicted in his power
There was a sharpened sword above his head
That hung there by the thinnest simple thread.”
This reference is taken from Roman Legend — having to do with a sharpened sword hung over the head of the emperor, as reminder. As a memento mori.
Life is fragile. We all must die. And death could always be sooner than you think.
There are two things we can do when these useful and real reminders of the inevitable cross our paths.
Fall into fear, depression, dread, or hopelessness.
Find motivation to make this day count. To make this moment count. To work hard on things that matter while cherishing the ones you love.
I choose the latter.
