3 ms·

“It seems to me, your highness, that the life of man on earth is like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting hall where you are sitting at

“It seems to me, your highness, that the life of man on earth is like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting hall where you are sitting at dinner on a winter’s day with your captains and counsellors. In the midst there is a comforting fire to warm the hall. Outside, the storms of winter rain and snow are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one window of the hall and out through another. While he is inside, the bird is safe from the winter storms, but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came. So man appears on earth for a little while – but of what went before this life, or what follows, we know nothing.” -- Bede, 7th c. Life is a waterfall We're one in the river and one again after the fall Swimming through the void, we hear the Word We lose ourselves, but we find it all Serj Tankian, 21st c :)

stopyellingatme 5y ago
Never knew the System of a Down song used this quote. Beautiful.
irrational 5y ago
I’ve heard it compared to a 3 act play. When all you have is the second act, the play is hard to understand. Or, to put it in more modern terms, it is like trying to make sense of Empire Strikes Back, but you never have any knowledge of Star Wars or Return of the Jedi.
- lcall 5y ago
  I believe this, because of some things I have come to know (confirm) for myself. We lived with God, the father of our spirits, before we were born to mortality. We grew and learned, wanting to become more like Him, so he made a plan, sometimes called the Plan of Happiness, which we accepted, and by which we could come here, to get a physical body (which will be immortal later on), to learn from experiences of contrasts & good & bad, & to practice choosing right from wrong. After death (separation of the spirit from the physical body), we continue to have our same individual identity, we keep learning (everyone will have a chance to learn what they need, to choose for themselves), we await resurrection (physical immortality) and judgement, upon which we will be able to enjoy, to the extent that we were willing enough to obey God and follow the Plan, to progress and help others. Our enjoyments and progress are greatly enhanced when we learn more, and follow the good things we learn. He promised peace in this life, and the opportunity for eternal life in the world to come, if we do as he asks, but the choices are ours. (More at my site, like how I learned; nothing for sale.)

stopyellingatme 5y ago

Never knew the System of a Down song used this quote. Beautiful.

irrational 5y ago

I’ve heard it compared to a 3 act play. When all you have is the second act, the play is hard to understand. Or, to put it in more modern terms, it is like trying to make sense of Empire Strikes Back, but you never have any knowledge of Star Wars or Return of the Jedi.

lcall 5y ago
I believe this, because of some things I have come to know (confirm) for myself. We lived with God, the father of our spirits, before we were born to mortality. We grew and learned, wanting to become more like Him, so he made a plan, sometimes called the Plan of Happiness, which we accepted, and by which we could come here, to get a physical body (which will be immortal later on), to learn from experiences of contrasts & good & bad, & to practice choosing right from wrong. After death (separation of the spirit from the physical body), we continue to have our same individual identity, we keep learning (everyone will have a chance to learn what they need, to choose for themselves), we await resurrection (physical immortality) and judgement, upon which we will be able to enjoy, to the extent that we were willing enough to obey God and follow the Plan, to progress and help others. Our enjoyments and progress are greatly enhanced when we learn more, and follow the good things we learn. He promised peace in this life, and the opportunity for eternal life in the world to come, if we do as he asks, but the choices are ours. (More at my site, like how I learned; nothing for sale.)