Off my mother’s bookshelf, great perspective on how unimportant you really are over time.
The Deliverance
by Anthony De Mello – Wellspring 1986
To see life as it truly is, nothing helps so much as the reality of death.
I imagine I am present at my funeral.
I see my body in the coffin,
I smell the flowers and incense,
I witness every detail of the funeral rites.
My eyes rest briefly on each person present at the funeral.
Now I understand
how short a time they have to live themselves,
only they are not aware of it.
Right now their mind is focused,
not on their own […]