‘Who wants to live forever?’ Freddy Mercury thundered out that song to 70 000 adoring fans in the Wembley Stadium with his trademark gusto. Indeed, who wants to live forever? In my case, if I can’t take it with me I’m not going!
I quote a verse in the lyrics;‘Touch my tears with your lips, Touch my world with your fingertips, And we can have forever And we can love forever Forever is our to-day’. Pure genius!The film, The Green Mile, made a huge impression on me. Set in a Death Row cell block in the 30s, an inmate breathed longevity into a warden (Tom Hanks).
The upshot was that the warden went on to outlive his wife, children and friends. He could relate to nobody thus his loneliness was overwhelming. Methuselah was said to have lived for 969 years.
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Ja, pull the other one! But what do I know?! Those who follow Christian theology may recall that in Genesis 6:3, 120 years is regarded as a reasonable life expectation.
In Psalms 90:10 this expectancy was reduced to about 70-80 years. Commonly, the thinking is three score and 10 = 70. That’s a worry!
I’m on unpaid overtime! It’s certainly sobering when one realises that you are closer to where you’re going than where you came from! The Torah refers to a lifespan around 900 years, but later modified to around 70+.
The Quran makes reference to Noah, who allegedly lived 950 years. Although no other specifics are mentioned, there are references to lifespans being pre-ordained. The Vedas in Hinduism regards 100 as normal.
Interestingly, in many ancient texts lifespans of around 900 years are mentioned. My liver wouldn’t go the distance! Bury it separately with honours.
The point of this hinges around the question of what determines longevity? Regrettably, the Philosopher’s Stone, (Magnum Opus) being the elixir of life, is out of reach. The duration of a lifetime is both controversial and contradictory.
Controversial in that there are more theories on that subject than anything else. Contradictory, in that people who conscientiously eat right and exercise rigorously are not guaranteed to live long purely because of that lifestyle. Others who break those rules and include nicotine and both fermented grape and juniper juice to their diets can, as easily, hang in for a heck of a long time!
What therefore, is the secret! Lucky you bought today’s copy of The Witness (make it a habit) as the secret of longevity shall be revealed. As I have your attention, here’s a possible downer.
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