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On Death
The poet W.H. Auden described
death as “the rumble of distant thunder at a picnic.”
It’s a brilliant metaphor.​
In my mind, in that scenario, we have 3 choices:
1.
The first choice is to totally ignore the thunder and hope that the storm blows north, but when the storm does hit, we will be totally unprepared and will be in some danger.
2.
The second choice is to recognize that the storm is coming, and to feel dread that it will totally ruin the remainder of the picnic, and yet do nothing to prepare for it.
3.
The third option is to recognize the threat that the thunder represents, to reorganize priorities and enjoy the good weather while you can, and then be packed and ready to seek shelter when the storm hits.
~ Excerpted from the article "Facing the Abyss: Planning for Death" by Kevin Dieter
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