By Joseph J. Bucci ——Bio and Archives--November 8, 2024

Cover Story | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us

Not everyone has an awareness of the day that they could die. It would certainly be a difficult and anxious day, knowing that you’d never again see the ones you have loved for so long on this side of eternity. Depending on the circumstances, it could be a benefit to know that in a little while the excruciating pain you might be experiencing will finally be coming to an end.

I am not aware what percentage of people know of the day that they are going to die. According to one study, New Years’ Day was named as the #1 mortality day (Holliday, 2021). In this same article, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, August 2 is the day that statistically you would be mostly likely to die if you were to die while driving (Holliday, 2021). On one website (OurWorldinData.org), there are projections on the probability of dying by age (OurWorldinData.org, 2019). King Solomon seems to have had some idea about when we might die, because he mused rather bleakly that, “The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 NLT). Not the most encouraging Bible verse, is it?

So then why am I writing about the day that I might die? Because I wondered whether on that day my behavior would be any different than any other day. If I knew the day I was going to die, I would certainly wake up and embrace my last moments on this ‘terra firma;’ and hug my wife and hold her more tightly and passionately than any other day. But wouldn’t I do this any day – everyday?........

© Canada Free Press