Perspectives, Yet Again

FRI., OCT. 27, 2000, 2:06 PM
DINING TABLE, FARMHOUSE

Yes, o son, after another “practice” this evening and a “run-through” of the songs and stories you’ll use on the way to the “site” you shall, once again, offer this “classic” presentation in relation to death. Let me help you prepare by suggesting how they “apply” to the young MIT freshman’s death from over-drinking in a hazing incident.

Ecological perspective is an easy, relevant one. The alcohol in the many, consecutive shots of tequila was a stress on his body, to which it had to adapt. Many other young persons, over the years, have been “initiated” in similar ways, and most of them adapted and continued to live. Perhaps he would have adapted on another evening, with somewhat different circumstances. But on this night the effects of the alcohol were to slow the heart and shut down the breathing. A modern “breathing machine,” if available and instituted might have helped with the adaptation. But there was none such there, and his capacities to adapt were not sufficient. His own resources were not enough, and, in this perspective, death is an expected result. In this perspective his spirit dies with him, so there are no “consequences” for him… other than just no more life and consciousness.

A Humanistic perspective would agree that, for him, there are no further consequences, no more conscious life. But, because human life is the most valued, there can be no acceptance that this was just an accident, just lack of adaptability. Those responsible for this hazing stunt must be identified and punished, along with various educational and legal efforts to prevent this happening again. But this perspective may approve of punishment for those responsible (partly as punishment and partly as a deterrent to future similar actions) OR may be wary of damaging the lives of some of those who were responsible, but did not intend that he be permanently harmed. This perspective has some ambivalence about punishment.

Christian perspective, finally, accepts death as an inevitable aspect of life, but with most concern for how his spirit/his soul was in relation to the God Who was in Christ Jesus. If, in his rather shortened life, he had accepted Jesus as the Christ and God as the Supreme Power (even Me, Holy Spirit, as an aspect of this God) he would be welcomed into heaven. But if he had not yet truly accepted and trusted in Me the future of his immortal soul would suffer in some ways, perhaps even for eternity. Yet there also would be consideration of how he had lived his young life. It is not, I say, not completely and fully… Pass or Fail.

Now Reincarnation perspective would say that in full spiritual consciousness the young man is brought face to face with this life just ended and also previous lives, in the earth or in other realms. He would be helped to see how this fatal behavior affected his spiritual growth… whether it was some sort of test that he failed, this time and thus would need to “deal with” in some future “life”. There would be some regret that this life was short and ended this way, but also the opportunity to continue to progress, spiritually. This happening could have some effect upon a subsequent life… but not necessarily… if it was just “an accident.” The effects on those who urged him to overdrink would depend on how their spirits responded and how they lived the rest of their lives. For some it could be a key event, the call for a change in life style.

The Life After Life perspective might focus on what happened to him as the effects of alcohol began to shut down his vital signs. He might have wanted to stay here, but simply couldn’t overcome the physical “depressive effects.” Or, he may have just wanted to go on, considering what seemed to be “a good future.” He may briefly (but outside of time “briefly” has not true meaning) have met and interacted with some souls that he had known (in this life or in some “other”) and decided to go on, particularly if it were made known to him that his brain would have some permanent damage.