A Blessing in Disguise

       Heraclitus of Ephesus once said, “You cannot bathe in the same river twice.” With these words Heraclitus reflects on the ever-changing nature of a river; the water flows continually without end and is never quite the same as it was only moments before. In much the same way, we live in an ephemeral world; our lives and the lives of those around us are transient and fickle. Life can change without even a moment’s notice. Life now, in this very moment, in no indication of what life will be life five minutes down the line. Life today does not assure life tomorrow.  Realistically, the only thing we know for certain is that things will change: people will grow, people will die, and life will never be still.

          Although his notion of impermanence is inescapable, there are still those who fear it and seek to defy it. At the start of the epic, Gilgamesh ignores his mortality in favor of “establish[ing] [his] name on bricks” (70); he seeks only to establish a sense of immortality – a name that will endure and will be remembered by all. With these clouded priorities, he willingly treks into the Cedar Forest to come face to face with Humbaba, whose “roar is like the torrent of a storm, breath is like fire, and jaws are death itself” (71). Gilgamesh further endangers himself in an attempt to perpetuate an “enduring name” (88) by slaughtering the Bull of Heaven. In both instances, Gilgamesh embraces selfishness. He ignores the frailty of life in order to solidify his sense of strength and supremacy and surpass the realities of humanity. After the eventual death of Enkidu, Gilgamesh begins to fear death and, therefore, wanders in search of Utnapishnim and his secrets of immortality. In the meantime, Gilgamesh encounters the wine-maker, Siduri, who insists that he "will never find that [immortal] life for which [he is] looking" and instead "day and night, night and day, [he should] dance and be merry, feast and rejoice" (102). Nevertheless,  Gilgamesh cannot come to terms with the fact that the gods “allot [life and death], but the day of death they do not disclose” (107) – he cannot accept that his fate is decreed by a power beyond his control.

         Much like Gilgamesh, in Porter’s “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” Granny Weatherall cannot face the reality of death. She lies upon her deathbed and claims to have faced death and made peace with it twenty years ago when she took trips to say goodbye to her children and grandchildren and created a will organizing her affairs. Though she claims to have prepared, when it actually comes time for her death, she feels that it is not yet her time to go. 
        Although Gilgamesh and Granny both fear and try to escape the unfolding of life and mortality, I cannot help but think that had they embraced the natural order of life they would have died feeling fulfilled and satisfied. I feel as though accepting life’s constant unpredictability and impermanence has a positive influence on our lives. While a great deal of life  is beyond our control, this lack of control ultimately empowers us to take charge of what we can decide.

        Though I would be lying if I said that death and change were not a bit intimidating, I can honestly say that I find a completely open-ended future even more frightening. Without an end to life, each of us would put off responsibilities and work; we would not be motivated to invest time and effort. I could easily envision myself aimlessly lounging on the couch, snacking on junk food, and giving into frivolity. For this reason, I feel that though coping with death is painful and facing change can challenging, life’s uncertainty is a blessing in disguise. It unquestionably plays an essential role in igniting this vigor and drive within each of us. 
      Knowing that life is short and that life can change in a split second, we are driven to experience as much as we can and make the most of each opportunity that is handed to us.  In trying out new things,we are encouraged to take time to identify passions so that we can live life doing things that we enjoy. Moreover, life’s fragility also lends each one of us valuable perspective. We take note that we must appreciate each moment we have with friends and loved ones as opposed to taking family dinners, holiday gatherings, and even phone calls for granted. We learn to appreciate the little things like fresh cut flowers, the smell of a new book, and getting the mail because we never know what unsettling surprise may be waiting for  us around the corner.
            That being said, even without finding eternal life, humans can create a legacy that will last beyond their time. This need not be a major invention, technological advancement, or artistic achievement, rather by accepting life for what it is and making the best of all that comes your way, your presence will set a precedent for those around you and, thus, live on forever.