“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Benjamin Franklin
As the world continues to turn and our lives play out on this ball of dirt, spinning at 67,000 MPH. We are only 48 hours away from the end of this year. It is time to now ponder what is reality. Could we be living in a computer program similar to the Matrix? Are we living in a program that “The Man” keeps us down? That is possible, but not quite probable. What is for sure? The odds are pretty good, that two things will happen in the next century.
Paying Taxes
In life, you will pay some tax. When driving a car at the gas pump, they hide the 38 cents into the cost of a gallon of gas (which is very sneaky, to say the least). If you own a home or something of value, you will probably pay ad valorem, which is based on the item’s value. Renters, you might think you don’t pay taxes, but you do in your monthly rent. We all pay taxes; in Texas, we have a sales tax on everything but food and medicine. Even the homeless man living under the bridge will pay taxes on that item he purchases at the bodega. Unless you live on a deserted island, you will tax some government entity.
Some government officials have the idea they can sway human behavior by taxing, known as sin taxes. Sin taxes are added in excess to products like cigarettes, alcohol, and firearms. New York City even had taxes on soft drinks the officials felt were harmful than healthful to its citizens. Hey, people have gone to war over taxes and tea! We know this is part of life, and we are built to do what we do so that others can consume it.
Momentum Mori
Yes, I’m talking about death. Remember, you are mortal; you will die! Death is the one thing in life with which most people are uncomfortable. We’ve even created euphemisms to make it seem more admirable than it is: passing on, going to your resting place, your demise, giving up the ghost, kicking the bucket, meeting your maker, breathing your last breath, going to a better place. We tend to give death a better face than he deserves, but it’s for sure we will all die. There have been only two people who didn’t die in the annals of recorded history, but they aren’t here on earth either. As the year itself is dying, giving up the ghost, slipping away, it gives some few remaining hours to ponder; for what’s death suitable? Absolutely nothing!
At the very beginning, Adam disobeyed God, and for that, he was given the punishment of death. Yes Adam, our federal head, a representative person of humanity, stood before God and took his just punishment that we must all bear. It’s interesting in contrast how death is so stigmatized by society if a new virus that kills .0001% of the population they panic! Death is a motivating factor in people doing brutal health routines, such as running and cycling long distances when motor vehicles could get you there in less time. You might be moving your clock a few years, but in the long term, you won’t be able to live forever.
Most people will die of ordinary things, like heart attack, car accidents, and other complications to our health. A few go out by lightning strick or whale consumption. The fact is, we don’t know when or how we will die, but we also must not fear death.
Tomorrow I plan to continue this with life after death, Lord willing, unless I meet my maker in the next few hours.
