The Illusion of Eternal Time
People tend to forget the brevity of life because a false sense of unlimited time has taken root within them. They are convinced that there are still many days ahead, and this belief prompts them to lavishly waste their time without considering its finiteness. In one source it is stated:“We think that the time given to us will always be at our disposal, and therefore we squander it with inebriated generosity. We believe that all the time is yet ahead, and when death comes, we see that time has run out, like an unwound ball of wool. The oblivion of the inevitability of death and the finitude of time pins us down as if nailing us to the ground. And in essence, we voluntarily surrender ourselves to death by clinging to that which is temporary, to that which cannot be held. The sixth commandment declares: ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (Ex. 20:13). Yet we continuously break it, for we are incessantly killing our own spirit. By yielding ourselves to what is temporal, transient, changeable and ultimately mortal—something that is itself subject to decay—we pronounce judgment upon our own soul. Forgetting about death, we forget about eternity, and in doing so we deprive ourselves of eternal life.” (source: link txt)This outlook is reflected in human behavior as follows. Whether consciously or unconsciously recognizing the limitations of one’s existence, a person succumbs to the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, scattering their energy in the quest for immediate gratification. They tend to ignore enduring values and spiritual development, opting instead for activities that provide instant satisfaction. The rejection of the thought of life’s finiteness leads to a careless attitude toward one’s own time and the way one manages existence, much like material goods and superficial pleasures obscure the eternal meanings.Another source emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one’s own finitude:“Only he who has become akin to the thought of his own end, said a certain venerable Father, can put an end to his sins. Arise from your bed as one rising from the dead; lie upon it as if in a grave: sleep is a portrait of death, and the darkness of the night a harbinger of the gloom of the tomb, after which the joyful light of resurrection will shine for the servants of Christ and be dreadful for His enemies. Just as a dense cloud, though composed of but fine vapors, blocks out the sunlight, so too do bodily pleasures, dispersion, and trivial earthly worries obscure the soul’s view of majestic eternity.” (source: link txt)This quote shows that only by acknowledging the finiteness of one’s journey can a person make more meaningful decisions, otherwise missing the opportunity to live in accordance with eternal values. Thus, in forgetting the brevity of life, a person essentially closes their eyes to the true value of time, turning their existence into a stream of fleeting pleasures and haphazard activities that ultimately lead to meaningless, unreflective deeds.In summary, people tend to ignore the finiteness of their time because they are convinced of its endlessness, and this belief manifests in their carefree attitude towards life: they squander time on transient pleasures, without contemplating the eternal and profound.Supporting citation(s):“We think that the time given to us will always be at our disposal, and therefore we squander it with inebriated generosity… forgetting about death, we forget about eternity, and in doing so we deprive ourselves of eternal life.” (source: link txt)“Only he who has become akin to the thought of his own end, said a certain venerable Father, can put an end to his sins… and worldly pleasures, dispersion, and trivial earthly cares obscure the soul’s view of majestic eternity.” (source: link txt)