Thursday, August 11, 2016

Quote from American Gods by Neil Gaiman (and Observations on Life and Death)


I was listening to America Gods by Neil Gaiman, and a scene with the main character, Shadow, dealing with his own mortality stuck out:

"We do not always remember the things that do no credit to us. We justify them, cover them in bright lies or the thick dust of forgetfulness. All of the things that Shadow had done in his life of which he was not proud, all the things he wished he had done otherwise, or left undone came at him in a swirling storm of guilt and regret and shame and he had nowhere to hide from them…

The examination did not stop. Every lie he had ever told, every object he had stolen, every hurt he had inflicted on another person, all the little crimes and tiny murders that make up the day, each of these things and more were extracted and held by the jackal-headed judge of the dead." --From America Gods, by Neil Gaiman

The quote made me think and reflect, and here are my observations based upon it:

I think there are a  lot of 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' we all have with respect to our relationships with others, especially family and those close to us who have passed.

Over the years I have learned to forgive, and sometimes ask forgiveness (maybe I'll improve with the latter).

My belief is that it will all be sorted out eventually in Heaven, and there, of course, none of it will really matter.

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