The finality of death is meant to challenge us to decision, the decision to be fully present here now, and so begin eternal life. For eternity rightly understood is not the perpetuation of time, on and on, but rather the overcoming of time by the now that does not pass away. But we are always looking for opportunities to postpone the decision. So if you say: “Oh, after this I will have another life and another life,” you might never live, but keep dragging along half dead because you never face death.
Don Juan says to Carlos Castaneda, “That is why you are so moody and not fully alive, because you forget you are to die; you live as if you were going to live forever.” What remembrance of death is meant to do, as I understand it, is to help us make that decision.
David Steindl-Rast, Learning to Die
Mindfulbalance 
Thank you! This was exactly what I needed today. I’ve been dealing with a lot of losses lately, and this is such a valuable reminder.
beautiful photo, human beings are not very good nowadays at living in the now, due to much conditioning to be doers. We are really human- doings – not human beings. Wisdom of the saints is learned over a long period of time and preparation. I have never mastered it. eve