What would you do, if you knew that world would end tomorrow?
"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” - Martin Luther
I’ve watched a short cutout from an interview about how to live a fulfilled life where Abbot Christopher Jamison - a Benedictine monk, got asked this question. He replied that the best answer he ever heard to this question was - “I would go out and plant a tree” referring to Martin Luther.
It really moved me. So quiet, yet so rebellious. Pure gesture of hope, and leaving legacy - which I wrote more about here. Seemingly purposeless action, knowing that it won’t have mattered tomorrow. Life matters, even if only for a moment. We too, are alive, only for a fleeting moment, even if it seemingly feels like we have a lot of time. Actions we take, futile at hindsight, still matter. By doing, we defy our impermanence and leave traces of hope. Perhaps the simplest things - creating, nurturing something with care - are what give life the deepest meaning.
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