If you had your choice, have you ever thought about how you would prefer to die? It may seem like a strange question, but it is one that is worth thinking about and answering.
photo by jaymethunt courtesy of Pixabay
For me, the most noble way to die is defending or protecting others. Jesus said in John 15, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” So the soldier, the policeman, the fireman, the teacher, the crossing guard, whoever dies trying to protect others, they die the most heroic death. We honor them for the nobility of their sacrifice.
On the other end of the scale is the inglorious death. A life lived selfishly without thought for others, one who lives solely for oneself. We all know people who have passed and no one missed them. They lived their lives in a total self-gratifying way. Surely none of us would want to pass that way.
There are a lot of ways in the middle of the scale to die. You can die doing something you love. I have known of a couple of young men who have died climbing mountains. The only consolation their families had was, “They died doing what they loved.” At best, it is little consolation when you see a young life cut off while in its prime.
I don’t think any of us wants to die because of our own foolish choices. No one wants to go to a bar and die on the way home because we were drunk. We don’t want to die from an overdose of drugs. We don’t want to die from lung cancer because we chose to smoke our entire lives. We don’t want to die because we were texting while driving.
When we truly think about how we would want to die, it should give us motivation about how we should live. If we want to die in service to others, we should prepare ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually so that we have the mindset we need if we are ever in that situation. It should make us want to make right choices so that we could add to the lives of others for the short while we are here on this earth.
If we look at our lives and see we are heading down a road of dissipation and addiction, we might want to take a day or two off of our drug of choice and really take stock of where we are. Do we need to get help to get sober or clean? There is no shame in admitting we need help. It is one of the bravest and most courageous things we can do.
Are we spending our entire lives solely trying to please ourselves? While it may feel good at the moment, in the end our selfishness will add only a hollow ring to our lives. Remember the question put to the man at a funeral, “How much did he leave behind?” The answer was and is always, “All of it.” We need to learn to share what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves. It will give our lives true meaning and purpose.
Let’s look at our lives and our lifestyles and see if we need to make any adjustments. After all, our lives are but a breath here, and we will soon be gone. So again I ask, “If you had your choice, how would you prefer to die?
Valerie Cullers 
Powerful blog! Really made me think!
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So glad it was thought provoking, that is what I hoped it would do! Thanks!
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death is always present in our day. so my choice has always been to die for what I believe: justice, peace, harmony, understanding, tolerance for diversity, diminishing inequality, alongside those who really need it. a text that makes me think, and provokes deep reflection.
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Thank you so much for your insightful comments. I too thought about dying for what you believe in and that is also very noble. I am so glad you mentioned it!
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Powerful! ❤ ❤
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Years ago I read in “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” that the best way to die well is to live well. I have found only truth in that statement. Fr. Mitchell J. Dahood, a Catholic priest, an expert on ancient Semitic languages, and the author of the three-volume commentary on the Book of Psalms that subsequent exegetes of the Psalms refer to, died while sitting in church. Morris West, the great Catholic Australian novelist, died while writing.
I want to die while doing something positive.
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Yes, I think that statement is true as well. While thinking about this post, I looked up a few well known personages to see how they passed. I think it is interesting that Oscar Wilde asked for a priest on his deathbed and wanted to be baptized. It is never too late to turn to the Lord! Thank you for your insightful comment!
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This is a really thought provoking question Valerie. I would like to know I had made a positive difference, however small that might be. I would like to think I had learnt from this life and in doing so, contributed to global well being, somewhat like the butterfly effect. No doubt I’ll ponder this question for days to come. But sometimes it the first thoughts that are from the heart.
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I agree with you. I, too, would like to have made a difference, however small in the lives of others. The purpose of the post was to help people examine how they were living. We must live with intentionality because our time on earth is so short from an eternal perspective. Thank you so much for your heartfelt response.
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When I’m there finally with God and he asks me , “Kavitha, what do you have to say for yourself”, I will say, ” I lived by your word, I did my best, I tried to live in your image.”
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When I am there I will stand in the finished work of Christ, and say “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
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You say it best Val.😘
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Thought about it many times. Great post
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Me too! Perhaps our minds are on the same track every now and then! ❤ ❤
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Lol they must be !!
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I had a conversation with my husband recently and I said I would prefer to die in my sleep someday. Every night when I go to bed, I am thankful for a warm, clean bed and would love to wake up in Heaven when the time comes. Having said that, I pray God would give me the strength to “lay down my life” if the need ever arises.
❤️carmen
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Yes, I have prayed that for many years also. It seems like the best way to go. One of my sons was in the military and then was a policeman and the other is on the safety team at church. I think of them many times if they would be asked to lay down their lives for others. I know they are prepared, the question is, “Am I?” I hope so!
Thanks for sharing!!!!!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SERVING GOD—AND SEEING A GLIMPSE OF THE REAL HEAVEN, LORD SO WILLING!
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Yes, thank you! Blessings for the reblog!
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Good question! For me, one of the most “noble” deaths is that of a martyr.
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Yes, absolutely! Thanks for sharing your take on the question! Blessings to you!
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