Ephemeral

[inyati13]

Our lives are not much different from that of the mayfly. They metamorphose into the adult, mate, lay their eggs and die. They are "ephemeral" hence the name of the taxonomic Order they belong to "Ephemeroptera".

I was thinking this morning in regard to Deepsouth's thread on the trophies. I rarely spend a moment looking at trophies I have collected from many places. I often think about some of the odd experiences I had in getting them. We rolled a land rover in the Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe. Oddly, Richard and I were not even scratched but a Matabele tracker suffered a badly separated shoulder. It was a nightmare for us getting him to Harare which was miles away and difficult to reach without an airlift. He was in severe pain and all we could do was keep him on what pain medication Richard had.

All we do and accumulate is "dust in the wind". Not many of us will do anything that will survive our time. Few contribute to the improvement of mankind or the advancement of medicine, etc. The one thing we do that survives us is the contribution we make through our offspring. If we provide guidance and assistence that they may pass on, I guess that is the only meaningful longterm contribution we leave behind. Other than that, we use up our time and like the mayfly, we are gone. But before they go, they leave the eggs for the next generation.

 

[Deepsouth]

Inyati, I agree with you about the mounts. I don't really call them trophies. The real trophy of a hunt is in the memory of the experience. I do not hunt to collect "trophies" but experinces. Ron you may noticed that all of the mounts I showed I named a river or creek that I was hunting near. I am a explorer at heart and hunting has always give me that opportunity to fill that desire to see country that I've never seen. There really is no better way to experience land than to be out on it afoot. I have been fortunate enough to be able to hunt in eleven states. I never killed anything at all in three of those states but it was good exploring. I've spent a lot of time in the rocky mountains to only kill two elk but I can tell you not one second of it was a waste. I can't even begin to tell you what those mountains do for me. One of the greatest hunts I've ever been on was actually in your home state. Bigfoot was having a turkey hunt for sick and handicapped kids. I went up to help out. It turned out that they had plenty of help so he asked if I would take his son hunting on his place. I had no gun and no licenses but that was two of the best days hunting I've ever experienced. I got to send two days on some beautiful land and get to know a fine boy. I'll never forget those days it is definitely one of my top 10 trophies. Why then do I have these mounts? Two reasons. I like animals and I like to look at them. I'd love to have a big longhorn mount on my fireplace. The other reason is because they help me remember my experiences. They're not to show how great of a hunter I am because really I'm not all that good of a hunter. I can't stay put because I'm always wanting to see what's over the next hill or around the next bend in the creek.
As I'm getting older my view of hunting is changing. A bow replaced my guns a few years ago and now I find a camera seems to be replacing my bow. With the camera comes many more chances for reminders than my gun and bow ever offered. Now a bird, a tree, a flower or even the sky have become my quarry. It has opened up new places for me to explore that my gun and bow could not offer. I never cared much for beaches and marshes but now with my camera I find them very interesting. Now I'm exploring a whole new land for me.
Now as for mankind being ephemeral. I have to get to work right now and don't have time to get into it but I'll get back with you on that later.

 

[melking]

Well said both of you guys. I often ponder the question of " Will anyone miss me when I am gone"?. I know of course that my family will but more to the public in general, have I built, said, or done anything that will make me a lasting memory? Sadly, I think not. I have been conducting a little experiment on this forum. There was a topic that I posted on a lot; daily for sure and sometimes multiple times a day. I decided to stop posting and see if anyone missed me. Imagine my chagrin when a year later, not one question has been asked about where I went. I think if you want lasting kudos you have to do something either heinous or famous to be remembered.

 

[Deepsouth]

Ron, you are right. Life is ephemeral. Although our life may seem long compared to the mayfly, it is very short compared to Alisons Baobab tree. Like you, the older I get the more I realize just how short life is. James says our life is like a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes. Melking is also right in that very few of us will be remembered beyond the third or fourth generation.
Ron, you say that "all we do and accumulate is dust in the wind." I half way agree with that, or should I say I agree with half of that. It is true that when we die loose, all of the material things that we have accumulated. As Job said, naked I came into the world and naked I shall leave it. We cannot take anything with us when we die. Jesus told a story of a rich man who's ground was very productive. It produced a very large crop and he wondered what he should do. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store all the grain in. Then he said " I have many goods stored up for many years. I will take it easy, eat, drink and enjoy myself." But that night he died and all his goods became someone else's.
However, just because we can't take material things with us does not mean we don't take anything with us when we die. Nor does it mean your deeds will be forgotten. The material is temporal but the spiritual is eternal. While the world may soon forget us, our deeds God will never forget, and He rewards accordingly. Of corse you both claim to be atheist so you don't accept the spiritual.
Ron your post has haunted me all day. Your faith astounds me! I know many believers with great faith however I've never seen faith as strong as yours. When I read your post and realize the hopelessness of it I realize how strong your faith is. To have faith in a deity is one thing, but to have faith in something that offers you no hope at all is the greatest faith of all. You have placed your faith in a big bang, evolution, and the belief, and even hope, that there is no God. From this you conclude that once you die you will simply cease to exist to live no more forever. Therefore all that you do, beyond what brings you satisfaction and meets your needs in the here and now, is done in vain. I cannot begin to imagine how empty that kind of life must be.

 

[B&M Farms]

My Grandpa once told me you don't really own the land because it owns you and will be here long after you are gone. You just get to take care of it for a little while.
The biggest thing I leave behind is my children and that's fine by me.

 

[hurleyjd]

Well said both of you guys. I often ponder the question of " Will anyone miss me when I am gone"?. I know of course that my family will but more to the public in general, have I built, said, or done anything that will make me a lasting memory? Sadly, I think not. I have been conducting a little experiment on this forum. There was a topic that I posted on a lot; daily for sure and sometimes multiple times a day. I decided to stop posting and see if anyone missed me. Imagine my chagrin when a year later, not one question has been asked about where I went. I think if you want lasting kudos you have to do something either heinous or famous to be remembered.

Read about some gents discussing a friend that had died. They were trying to decide if there was anything the friend was good at. Discussion had been going on for a while and they had come up with nothing. Another person showed up and he was asked if old so and so was good at anything. He thought for a minute and said he was the best whistler I ever heard whistle. So we may over look a lot of small things when looking for something big.

 

[branguscowgirl]

So we may over look a lot of small things when looking for something big

I like that, it is a good thing to remember.
Melking, I certainly would notice if you were gone from the forum!

 

[Nesikep]

Ron, I noticed you've been pretty sparse around here the last couple weeks!

As for people missing me when I'm gone, I don't think I have made any monumental influences on people (no kids), I think I'd most likely be missed for my ability to fix stuff! I don't have religious convictions other than I cannot believe entirely in evolution, but cannot deny it happens either. I believe there is more than matter, but couldn't name what it is. If I didn't believe in something greater than matter, why should I treat people with respect, or animals?

It's not a goal of mine to be a great person that will be remembered in history books, being fondly remembered by a few friends is of far greater importance to me, and if I can make big changes in a few people's lives that's worth more to me.

 

[Ryder]

Our lives are not much different from that of the mayfly. They metamorphose into the adult, mate, lay their eggs and die. They are "ephemeral" hence the name of the taxonomic Order they belong to "Ephemeroptera"

All we do and accumulate is "dust in the wind". Not many of us will do anything that will survive our time. Few contribute to the improvement of mankind or the advancement of medicine, etc. The one thing we do that survives us is the contribution we make through our offspring. If we provide guidance and assistence that they may pass on, I guess that is the only meaningful longterm contribution we leave behind. Other than that, we use up our time and like the mayfly, we are gone. But before they go, they leave the eggs for the next generation.

If that is all there is to it, then what good is it to produce offspring?
Are they not also condemned to a meaningless existence for the short time of their lifespan? With no accomplishment, no progress to show for it?
Where is the value in that?

 

[inyati13]

Ron, I noticed you've been pretty sparse around here the last couple weeks!

As for people missing me when I'm gone, I don't think I have made any monumental influences on people (no kids), I think I'd most likely be missed for my ability to fix stuff! I don't have religious convictions other than I cannot believe entirely in evolution, but cannot deny it happens either. I believe there is more than matter, but couldn't name what it is. If I didn't believe in something greater than matter, why should I treat people with respect, or animals?

It's not a goal of mine to be a great person that will be remembered in history books, being fondly remembered by a few friends is of far greater importance to me, and if I can make big changes in a few people's lives that's worth more to me.

I get asked that more than anything when I state that "the Universe is the result of natural processes that man does not understand and I do not seek any devine purpose in it." They always ask me why I don't kill people, steal, mistreat my fellow man, etc. I don't think it is natural for a human to execute acts of an "evil" nature. Elephants will go to the aid of a fallen member of the herd. Cape Buffalo bulls move to the perimeter of the herd to protect it from a predator. Humans who conduct "evil" acts are abnormal. They come from an environment where they were mistreated or they have an organic issue such as a mental disorder. As a Pagan (which is the word that I think best describes my beliefs or lack of beliefs), I don't rise in the morning and say to myself, "I want to go out today and be the worse person I can be".

I have been busy recently with breeding. I spend a great deal of time doing heat detects. It has not gone as well as I would like. I think the weather is a factor. Also, I had a number of first time calvers and they don't seem to be coming back into heat as easily as the cows do.

There is more than matter. There are the natural laws. Forces are induced by matter but are not matter. Some believe the Laws of Physics is the Divine power of the Universe.

 

[inyati13]

Our lives are not much different from that of the mayfly. They metamorphose into the adult, mate, lay their eggs and die. They are "ephemeral" hence the name of the taxonomic Order they belong to "Ephemeroptera"

All we do and accumulate is "dust in the wind". Not many of us will do anything that will survive our time. Few contribute to the improvement of mankind or the advancement of medicine, etc. The one thing we do that survives us is the contribution we make through our offspring. If we provide guidance and assistence that they may pass on, I guess that is the only meaningful longterm contribution we leave behind. Other than that, we use up our time and like the mayfly, we are gone. But before they go, they leave the eggs for the next generation.

If that is all there is to it, then what good is it to produce offspring?
Are they not also condemned to a meaningless existence for the short time of their lifespan? With no accomplishment, no progress to show for it?
Where is the value in that?

Ryder, there is personal value in one's accomplishments. That provides meaning. I am a Pagan but I am rewarded when I see my calves in the pasture. I get personal satisfaction from completing projects. Mowing my pastures. Seeing my dog having fun chasing birds that he can never catch. But in the end, it means nothing. The farm I spent time and money improving, will return to brush, briers, weeds and trees. No one will remember I played with Blue on the top of a ridge. No one will know the pleasures I had taking care of my cattle. It is all just dust in the wind.

 

[Bigfoot]

I never really think about the legacy that I leave behind, or how the world will remember me When I think of death, I usually think about Lazarus, and the rich man. Lazarus had nothing in this world, but was honored in death. The rich man had all that this world has to offer. When he cried out to Abraham from hell, he didn't want his purple robe, his money, or his food. He wanted Abraham to allow Lazarus to give him a drop of water. In the final end, a wealthy man ended up asking a beggar for something we all take for granted. This life doesn't intrest me as much as the next, and I get more inclined to feel that way as I get older.

 

[Bigfoot]

That was the first time I ever typed a bad word. I didn't know the forum would turn hell in to be nice

 

[alisonb]

That was the first time I ever typed a bad word.

You'll get over it :lol:

 

[alisonb]

[youtube]g0zSB2WEtwU[/youtube] :nod:

 

[branguscowgirl]

Was a great song Alison!

I have to say, this whole thread has left me a bit tearful thinking about our lives, our struggles, our joys, our achievements and short commings.
I am trying to picture my own life in others thoughts after I am gone.......It is pretty hard to imagine what they might remember about me. I guess my love for animals would stand out to them. Since I will be leaving my entire estate to care for my critters once I am gone!

 

[greybeard]

Every step we take, every thought we have, every word we speak and write will be remembered.

 

[Judge Sharpe]

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

 

[inyati13]

Ron, you are right. Life is ephemeral. Although our life may seem long compared to the mayfly, it is very short compared to Alisons Baobab tree. Like you, the older I get the more I realize just how short life is. James says our life is like a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes. Melking is also right in that very few of us will be remembered beyond the third or fourth generation.
Ron, you say that "all we do and accumulate is dust in the wind." I half way agree with that, or should I say I agree with half of that. It is true that when we die loose, all of the material things that we have accumulated. As Job said, naked I came into the world and naked I shall leave it. We cannot take anything with us when we die. Jesus told a story of a rich man who's ground was very productive. It produced a very large crop and he wondered what he should do. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store all the grain in. Then he said " I have many goods stored up for many years. I will take it easy, eat, drink and enjoy myself." But that night he died and all his goods became someone else's.
However, just because we can't take material things with us does not mean we don't take anything with us when we die. Nor does it mean your deeds will be forgotten. The material is temporal but the spiritual is eternal. While the world may soon forget us, our deeds God will never forget, and He rewards accordingly. Of corse you both claim to be atheist so you don't accept the spiritual.
Ron your post has haunted me all day. Your faith astounds me! I know many believers with great faith however I've never seen faith as strong as yours. When I read your post and realize the hopelessness of it I realize how strong your faith is. To have faith in a deity is one thing, but to have faith in something that offers you no hope at all is the greatest faith of all. You have placed your faith in a big bang, evolution, and the belief, and even hope, that there is no God. From this you conclude that once you die you will simply cease to exist to live no more forever. Therefore all that you do, beyond what brings you satisfaction and meets your needs in the here and now, is done in vain. I cannot begin to imagine how empty that kind of life must be.

Deepsouth, as I gave you food for thought, you have returned the favor and given me something that occupied my thoughts today. I am impressed by the credit you give me. I appreciate the depth of your perception. You have impressed me as an intelligent person.

One does not place faith in a curriculum of study or a body of knowledge, at least not in a way comparable to faith in Divine creation. I have a knowledge of evolution, science, biology, geology, etc. To call it faith would be a misuse of the word. Science is not faith based. It is based on the scientific method. So I think you honor me in a way that I am not worthy of.

Todd, it is not my knowledge or "faith" in science that causes the "hopeless" and "empty" life that I live out. It is because I cannot find any logic in the Christian Doctrine. I don't confess that to impress anyone or in an attempt to disparage your faith. I say it because it is the sincerest expression of my thoughts about the Christian Doctrine. It has never made any sense to me. The concept that a Divine Power who can create a Universe needs you and me to love him does not pass a laugh test. A Doctrine that dictates that bad boys and girls get to burn for eternity because they did not get their salvation card punched. Boy, nice guy. I know Todd, these are gross generalizations. But taken as a whole, the Christian Doctrine does not hold water for me. That is what I have in my head, so why not speak it with my lips. I have often been told, not to be so "logical" but if that is the case, is this Divine Power not the one who gave me my logic?

 

[Deepsouth]

Don't disrate yourself Ron by contending that you have no faith. By definition faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It is synonymous with trust, belief, confidence and conviction. You have to admit that your belief is steadfast. You are totally confident that it's correct almost, if not to the point of being a conviction. There is nothing wrong with that and It's something that I totally understand being a man of deep faith myself. I believe we all are given a measure of faith. The difference is in what we put that faith in. I choose to put my faith in the existence of a divine being and you choose put your faith in the nonexistent of a divine being.
You consider yourself to be a logical thinker. I don't see that at all. Logic is reasoning conducted or assessed according to strick principles of validity. The last I checked evolution is still a theory. No matter how strong a case they try to make for the theory of evolution it's still only a theory. There is nothing valid about a theory. Even if evolution was a proven fact we would still have to deal with how it started. How did life come from nothing. Even evolutionist admit there had to be a beginning. Ron I hate to tell you this but it's not very logical to believe in a theory and that everything came from nothing.
You say one does not place faith in a curriculum of study or a body of knowledge. Your body of knowledge comes from a curriculum of study that is based on a theory that has not been proven to be fact. In other words that means it's invalid. In my way of thinking that moves you from logic to faith.