So what if the Mayan Calendar is right?

Submitted by Glenn Hohnberg on Thu Oct 18th, 1.02pm

I was chatting to my physiotherapist yesterday and we got talking about the Mayan Calender and the end of the world. Recently she has bought a house and at the end of year is travelling overseas for work and then a holiday. So when I asked her if she thought the world would end I already knew the answer.

If she thought the world was going to end on 21 December then why get a mortgage and why plan to be in another country at Christmas if that other country will cease to exist? Just like your mortgage, house, lawn, drive, street and suburb will cease to exist.

Soon we were joking about all the things we’d do differently if we thought the world really was going to end. I wouldn’t be buying a 7 seater car for the birth of a new baby, I wouldn’t pay any more bills, and I wouldn’t go to work and I wouldn’t be doing all those painful physiotherapy exercises now would I? I only need my knees for another 2 months.

And what would I do? That is the question isn’t it?

It all depends on what the end of the world entails. There are really just two options. Either the end of the world is the end of all things. Or the end of the world (or at least our lives in it) is the start of the next phase.

If the end is just ceasing to exist, then ‘I’d live it up, baby’. I’d live a self indulgent, self satisfying life squeezing every last drop of enjoyment from the few precious hours of life that remained. I’d cut my losses on anything that upset me, annoyed me or even just bored me. And this includes people, since we’re all just going to be annihilated.

But if the end of the world meant starting a new phase I’d want to know how to be ready for that next step, and live now for then, especially if then was a long time.

So what do you think? What do you think the end will entail? And on what basis do you think that?

As for me I’m still seeing the physio and still doing my exercises. Not because I believe the world won’t end. If fact, I believe the world will end but I just don’t know when. Yet, I’m pretty sure the Mayan Calender hasn’t got it right because I’ve got the words of Jesus.

Comments

The Mayan Calender has got it

Submitted by Sam (not verified) on Sun Oct 28th, 11.42am

The Mayan Calender has got it right. It never suggests the world will end 21/12/2012.

Why if the world ending meant "ceasing to exist" would you live a self indulgent, self satisfying life? Shouldn't we do what is right no matter the circumstances?

An end is always also a beginning they are one and the same thing. That is the cyclical nature of Yahweh's creation. The tracking of these cycles is the purpose of the Mayan Calender.

Would we? Maybe. Should we? Why?

Submitted by Glenn Hohnberg on Mon Oct 29th, 4.09pm

Thanks Sam for your comment and question.

Would we really do what is right even if the end meant ceasing to exist? I think some of us, sometimes would because of our heritage, cultural conditioning and social framework.

But should we do what is right? I can't see why we would. This is kind of philosophical but the issue is, what reason would there be to do the right thing? What is motivation? Is it right for the sake of right?

If it is right for the sake of right, I don't think that will stand. Sure it will stand when right matches with what suits me. But if this life is all there is then if I have to choose between me getting what I want and you getting what you want, then I'd choose to benefit myself wouldn't I? Or if I have to choose between me losing something or you losing something I'd aim for you to lose, wouldn't I? Maybe this wouldn't be about dramatic choice. It could be just be in a thousand every day decisions, like angling for a promotion at work.

After all, if I miss out in this life, I miss out and why would I want to do that?

I guess this is a tad bit

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Feb 13th, 10.01pm

I guess this is a tad bit late because I am still here writing this comment with too much on my hands that the world did not end last year. Anyway, true or not, I've always told myself that it doesn't matter if the end of the world is tomorrow or in the next decade, a much more important question is always present in my mind. "Have I lived a life worth living?" If it indeed does ended, I will look back at my life and ask myself if I've really did my part in my community or if I had been a good son or a better lover. Have I seen every place that I wished I had? Have I said all the things that I keep bottled up inside me? In my opinion, this questions are much much more important as to waiting for the world to end. And no, I haven't yet lived my life how I want it so I try to wake up every morning and not waste time and just squeeze out everything that I can do for that 24 hours. Sorry for the long comment, it's just that the question of life always gets me excited :)

Joe, Guitar Instructor