Results from The JULY SAGE WRITING CHALLENGE: MINUTE MYSTERY
Up to 1000 words of prose or poetry. The elements of a mystery include the situation, question(s) that arise and a resolution. Below is a serious in-depth look at an ultimate mystery
Mystery of Life
by Keith Pyeatt
If I were to ask you, “What is the greatest mystery of life,” and you were to think long and hard, most of you would probably end up answering: “Death.” That’s a great answer. Death becomes a mystery the moment you understand the concept, and it remains a mystery even as you breathe your last breath.
There are some who might argue that life itself is the ultimate enigma, but on our journey through life, we unravel all of its mysteries, question by question. What will I be? Who will love me? Will I have children? Can I achieve success? How long will I live and how will I die? We solve life’s mysteries by living, but we die still asking ourselves, “What is death?”
Sure, there are beliefs, theories, and wishful thinking about what death holds for us. There are stories of beckoning lights, welcoming angels, heavenly gates, and joyful reunions with loved ones long passed. But mysteries are solved by facts, not beliefs and conjecture, and the fact is: The mystery of death can only be solved when you’re dead, so it remains the greatest mystery of life.
At least, for most of you.
As for me, I solved the mystery. I know the answer, because I’ve been there and back.
Now you have two questions you’d like to ask me. Fair enough. I started all of this by asking a question of you. Your first question for me is probably “How?” How did I return? Your second question brings us back to solving the greatest mystery, “What is death?”
To answer your first question of how, I’ll tell you what the doctors told me: “I don’t know.” I was pronounced dead by a crackerjack team of medical professionals. An hour later, they repronounced me alive, which makes me a pretty good mystery. At least, I think so. So does the crackerjack team of medical professionals. They used the words, “You are a great mystery.” So, I’ve got that going for me.
To answer your second question, “What was death like?” I can give you a specific answer. My death was a comfortable silence.
Disappointed? I wasn’t. I’ve always been comfortable with silence, maybe too comfortable. Sit too long in public enjoying nothing but silence and people begin noticing you, pointing you out to their friends, looking at you from the side of their eyes as they pass. It’s like my comfort becomes their discomfort.
But enough of that. Let me return to the mystery of death. I’d like to tell you that by experiencing it and bringing back the facts, I’ve solved the greatest mystery of life for us all. But that’s only what I’d like to tell you. I have to admit there’s a chance I’ve only solved the mystery for me. As I said earlier, I’ve always been comfortable with silence. Maybe that comfort shaped my death. Maybe your greatest comfort is found in a hot bubble bath or hugging your children or counting your money, and you’ll spend your eternity soaking, hugging, or counting.
That’s not fact, though. It’s my theory, just one more to add to all the other theories about death. But I’ve thought about it a lot, and I have more experience on this subject than most. Just ask the doctors I mentioned. I truly think that death is spending the rest of time doing what makes you comfortable. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s not a bad death. It sure beats winking out of existence or attending a dead family reunion that never ends. It’s a far sight better than an eternity of fire and brimstone. Even the concept of spending forever in white gowns singing praise and feeling blessed never really appealed to me. I’ll take the silent comfort that I know awaits me over all those other fates anytime.
In conclusion, for anyone who’s not me, death is life’s greatest mystery because it won’t be solved in your lifetime. But maybe my death—my first death, I should say—will give you a legitimate clue to solve your greatest mystery. It’s pretty darn hard to solve a mystery without a clue, so you can thank me later if you like. Until then, enjoy unraveling life’s mysteries by living well and long. Find comfort in life, and when you do, hold onto it like it’s your last possession. Because that’s exactly what it is.
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