Neale Donald Walsch: Begins to End the Instant It Begins to Begin

There is obviously much about death I do not understand.

Yes, and that is because you do not like to think about it.

Yet you must contemplate death and loss

the instant you perceive any moment of life,

or you will not have perceived life at all,

but know only the half of it.

Each moment ends the instant it begins.

If you do not see this,

you will not see what is exquisite in it,

and you will call the moment ordinary.

Each interaction “begins to end” the instant it “begins to begin.”

Only when this is truly contemplated and deeply understood

does the full treasure of every moment—

and of life itself—open to you.

Life cannot give itself to you if you do not understand death.

You must do more than understand it.

You must love it,

even as you love life.

Your time with each person would be glorified

if you thought it was your last time with that person.

Your experience of each moment would be enhanced beyond measure

if you thought it was the last such moment.

Your refusal to contemplate your own death

leads to your refusal to contemplate your own life.

Neale Donald Walsch

The Complete Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue