How People Who Do Not Fear Death Inspire us

Mortality is no threat to a well-lived life

“There are few things in life more inspirational than peering into the eyes of a man who does not fear his own death.” ( Joshua Becker in his book Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life)

Those who stare at death courageously are those having minimal regrets in life. Their sense of fulfillment in having accomplished meaningful goals in life helps them conquer the fear of death.

In 2012, Joshua Becker’s ninety-year-old grandfather, Harold Salem, asked him to visit his office. Mr. Salem had worked as a pastor in a South Dakota church for fifty-three years.

When Becker arrived at his grandpa’s office, the latter thrust a paper into his hands labeled “Memorial Service for Harold Salem.”

The grandpa had marked a biblical passage, which he wanted Becker to read out during his funeral service. He had listed each item in the service and the names of the people who had to attend the service. The grandpa had even scheduled the time for the funeral service’s each element.

Becker’s grandpa passed away in December 2020. He fulfilled his grandpa’s wish by reading the biblical passage during the funeral service.

How to die with minimal regrets

Dying full of life regrets- regretting doing or not doing things- is a waste of life.

Becker says self-centric activities like pursuing our own material goals and happiness can never lend meaning or purpose to our lives.

Other-centric activities which add value to others’ lives or help others in meaningful ways enrich our lives.

We don’t need to do great acts of sacrifice or donate considerable amounts to find our purpose and seek fulfillment.

We only need to recognize and utilize our unique strengths and abilities to help others and serve society and humanity in whatever way we can. Every small act of service and kindness counts in the universal scheme.

Becker says, “there are people in your life whom you can serve and love better than anyone else.”

How distractions prevent us from realizing our purpose

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it……..Life is long if you know how to use i.”( Seneca)

We lead supposedly busy lives and complain we have no time to help others. We waste a lot of time chasing material pleasures. We waste valuable time on passive digital entertainment.

Becker advocates a minimalist lifestyle to avoid needless distractions and to find the focus to accomplish meaningful goals.

Becker defines minimalism as “the intentional promotion of the things we most value by removing anything that distracts us from them.”

Final thoughts

Those who face death fearlessly have minimal regrets in life’s final stages. Becker’s grandpa had few regrets when he thought about death in his nineties because he had pursued a worthy purpose — to serve his church and the congregation- untiringly for over five decades.

A well-lived life is enriched with meaning and has no fear of death. Becker’s grandpa possessed the audacity to prepare his own funeral service because he had few regrets to worry about on the evening of his life.

Death is inevitable, but nothing to fear if we pursue a meaningful life.

Thanks for reading this story.