Is it unhealthy to think about death too much?

[FireDragon76]

I think for me, I wasn't present for either of my parents death. I was overseas and arrived later for the funeral. In some ways, it means I haven't faced the reality of death. I didn't grieve properly either.

I've never been to a real funeral once in my life . My parents thought they were sheltering me, as many secular people now days take that attitude. In truth, they did me a disservice. But you know, God took care of me anyways.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

BTW, Martin Heidegger said that his advice for happiness was spending time in graveyards thinking about death.

sorry just looking at your post again, its not something many of us do ,is it? I mean spend time in cemeteries unless we are visiting a loved one who died.
Could you visit a cemetery and spend an hour looking at graves of strangers? I mean it could be a very meditative experience I think. But I don't think I have the interest.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I've never been to a real funeral once in my life . My parents thought they were sheltering me, as many secular people now days take that attitude. In truth, they did me a disservice. But you know, God took care of me anyways.

I've been to at least 10 or so. Often its ourselves we feel sorry for. I did.I felt I needed to talk more with my Mother who was only 66.

 

[Mountainmike]

Am I unusual?
I have never thought about it!

I have wondered how I would cope if my lifelong partner and childhood friend and sweetheart of near 50 years moved on before I do, not least because of a battle with cancer she thankfully won. I have never really experienced life other than as a child without her!

But I have planned for that , a long if not continuous tour of the shrines of Catholicism, across the world...

As for my own end .. I have never thought about it.
Or perhaps the phrase is not yet thought about it.

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

 

[FireDragon76]

That is something I have thought about, I might take up holy orders or something like that. Living alone is no fun. I never really realized that until I was in a relationship, as I lived so many years single.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Am I unusual?
I have never thought about it!

I have wondered how I would cope if my lifelong partner and childhood friend and sweetheart of near 50 years moved on before I do, not least because of a battle with cancer she thankfully won. I have never really experienced life other than as a child without her!

But I have planned for that , a long if not continuous tour of the shrines of Catholicism, across the world...

Good for you.
Some of us have to focus on this life!

 

[FireDragon76]

I had a friend years ago that loved to go to old graveyards and look at the tombstones and monuments, and he took me along once through a brief tour. Of course he was gay, and a nurse, so maybe he was already a bit different in his perspective on life (BTW, he was also Catholic). I'm not sure if he was being a philosopher or he just liked to look at old stuff. He also like art museums of all kinds.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I had a friend years ago that loved to go to old graveyards and look at the tombstones and monuments, and he took me along once through a brief tour. Of course he was gay, and a nurse, so maybe he was already a bit different in his perspective on life (BTW, he was also Catholic). I'm not sure if he was being a philosopher or he just liked to look at old stuff. He also like art museums of all kinds.

yeah I had a similar friend. he was a real History buff. He was fascinated by micro and Macro Histories. Not from a Reigious perspective at all.

 

[Gabriel Anton]

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

Peace be with you.

If you have not read this book, it is a good book to read and ponder about.

+ PREPARATION FOR DEATH. - BY ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI. +

God bless you.

 

[yosoy]

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

Hey, just a quick point. I wouldn't be at all concerned with how close you feel to God or how much faith you think you have or how much courage you have or don't have.
For a start those things are based on feelings nothing to do with your salvation. God is going to look at what is truly in your heart. He isn't interested in what church you go to or even if you don't go to church. (Most churches teach truth mixed with lies anyway). I'd suggest you study the bible yourself and concentrate on purely getting to know our Holy Father and His only begotten Son Jesus for yourself.
I'm sure most people at some point consider their end. But it's probably not healthy to focus too much on that. There is nothing we can do to avoid the inevitable. Besides its an awesome thought knowing that we will all one day(Well those whom God declares righteous) at the end of time will be resurrected and get to live on the new Earth, completely healthy and always happy.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

My life is like reading a book. I want to know what's on the final page.
The lesson being that we need to be patient and just focus on doing our best each day.
Curiosity killed the cat?

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

Peace be with you.

If you have not read this book, it is a good book to read and ponder about.

+ PREPARATION FOR DEATH. - BY ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI. +

God bless you.

thanks Gabriel, you are always so helpful and prayerful too.

 

[Norbert L]

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

Wondering specifically about the last hour of our deaths is like wondering about how someone will specifically reply to your post. Also about that last hour, you may not necessarily even be aware of its' specifics. It could be an innocent moment such as crossing the road and being run over.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

It could be an innocent moment such as crossing the road and being run over.

that's right. Out of the blue. A real anti-climax. No drama, just whooshka, boom, dead as a doornail, another one bites the dust, next please.

 

[visionary]

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

Yes it is unhealthy to be thinking about death. A life in Yeshua is forever. It is all about living in Him. We are to have life and it is more abundantly.

 

[lastofall]

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. (2 Corinthians 4:18-5:2)

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. (2 Corinthians 4:18-5:2)

That seems to support my OP. I think we have to be ready all the time, vigilant. Our life could be over tomorrow. Are we ready? Have we repented recently? How's our relationship with God right now? We have to avoid getting caught up in the daily melodramas a if they are the most important thing. I mean we have to face up to our responsibilities and treat others with respect, but in the end it is not what others think of us but what God thinks of us.

 

[AlexDTX]

NB: not a thread about suicide

I mean as Christians, we are supposed to ponder on the shortness of our earthly life versus eternal life.
I tend to be obsessive about it though. Wondering about the last hour of my death. How much faith I will have. How much courage. How close I will feel to God.
Some will see it as negative I suppose. But I think it is only natural to be concerned about it.
I think about it every day, to be honest. Oh dear!

I think about my day every day. I am not anxious because I know Jesus and his merciful grace. I know I will see myself in heaven when I pass away. My only concern is the nature of my death. Will it be quiet and peaceful in my sleep or will it be painful? That I don't know.

 

[RaymondG]

Yes it is unhealthy.......I believe you draw to youself, that which you think about.....This is why "the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor"..... why the bible states: Let the weak say i am strong, and what a man thinketh, so is he.

Instead, I would focus on life. Death was conquered. When we are born from above, we pass from death to life and shall die no more.....I would spend my time trying to know this....which is very different from believing it.

Anyway.....how do we know death is real anyway? What if we just wake up again at a younger age and continue? What if we wake up as a different person? How do we know that the last dream we died in, wasnt our "real life" and we just woke up here with a bunch of memories of a past? what if we just separate from our body and glide around....attend our funeral then look for another adventure?

I happen to believe there is only life.

 

[GeorgeJ]

Not exactly biblical, but this is how I tend to view the whole subject: