爱的力量：让我们的存在永恒

爱的力量：让我们的存在永恒

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Changing of Seasons
   1. The Beauty of Autumn
   2. Reflections on Nature
3. The Troubles of the World
   1. Stagnation in the Labor War
   2. Tragic News Stories
   3. The O.J. Simpson Trial
4. Connecting with Loved Ones
   1. Reaching Out to Family
   2. A Brother's Response
5. The Suffering of Illness
   1. A Catheter's Pain
   2. The Frustration of Immobility
   3. Finding Comfort in Philosophy
6. Making the Most of Time
   1. The Value of Each Day
   2. The Last Thesis Together
7. Leaving a Lasting Legacy
   1. Being Remembered After Death
   2. Love as the Key to Immortality
8. The Power of Presence
   1. Learning to Fully Focus
   2. The Importance of Listening
9. A Father's Influence
   1. Memories of Maury's Father
   2. Lessons Learned and Applied
10. Embracing the Circle of Life
    1. The Dasana Tribe's Beliefs
    2. Seeing Death as a Continuation

🍂 The Changing of Seasons

Autumn is a time of transition, a season when the world transforms in beautiful and captivating ways. The leaves on the trees change colors, painting the landscape with hues of gold and rust. As I stroll through Wes Newton, the stunning portrait of nature's artistry unfolds before my eyes. Meanwhile, in Detroit, a different kind of war unfolds. The labor dispute between two factions has reached a stalemate, with each side pointing fingers and failing to bridge the gap through effective communication.

🌎 The Troubles of the World

While nature's transformation is a sight to behold, the news stories on TV paint a much bleaker picture. In rural Kentucky, a tragic incident shatters the tranquility as three men throw pieces of a tombstone off a bridge, causing a fatal accident. A teenage girl, on a religious pilgrimage with her family, loses her life in the senseless act. Across the country in California, the O.J. Simpson trial captures the nation's attention, a fascination bordering on obsession. Even in airports, people huddle around TV sets tuned to CNN, eager to catch the latest update on the trial.

🤝 Connecting with Loved Ones

In the midst of these turbulent times, I yearn for connection with my loved ones. I reach out to my brother in Spain, leaving heartfelt messages expressing my desire to talk and the depth of my thoughts. Weeks later, I receive a short reply, assuring me that everything is okay but indicating his reluctance to discuss his illness.

For my old professor, the challenges lie not in discussing illness but in grappling with its reality. Since my last visit, a nurse has inserted a catheter to aid in his bodily functions. The constant care required for his legs and the persistence of pain, despite his ability to move them, is yet another cruel twist of fate brought on by ALS. Whenever we engage in conversation, he often needs visitors to readjust his position or move his foot the right number of inches to find comfort. It's hard to fathom not being able to control such simple movements, like moving one's own head.

⏰ Making the Most of Time

Each day with my professor feels bittersweet. We cherish the mornings when he can be lifted from his bed and brought to his study, surrounded by his books, papers, and a hibiscus plant on the windowsill. Despite his physical limitations, he finds solace and purpose in this familiar setting. Reflecting on this, he shares with me his newest aphorism: "When you're in bed, you're dead." There's a twinkle in his eye as he invites me to sum up his philosophy.

📝 Leaving a Lasting Legacy

As the end draws near, my professor receives offers from Nightline and Ted Koppel himself to feature him on a show. Despite the temptation, he cautions them not to wait too long as his voice grows weaker with every passing day. Talking for extended periods exhausts him, and he has already canceled many meetings due to fatigue. The thought of not being able to provide the right attention to those seeking his guidance bugs him, but he acknowledges the compromise inherent in the media's role in spreading his message to millions.

👥 The Power of Presence

My professor and I embark on our last thesis together, exploring the dying man's conversations with the living and the wisdom he imparts before departing this world. This time, I approach the project with a slower pace, savoring the moments of connection and reflection. My mind drifts back to our first thesis in college, never imagining that years later, we would delve into a similar topic.

One of the lessons my professor imparts is the importance of being fully present. He believes in giving undivided attention to the person we are interacting with, without any distractions or thoughts about the past or future. It's a skill he taught in his group process class at Brandeis, one that I initially dismissed but now recognize as the most important lesson of my college years.

👨‍👦 A Father's Influence

The bond between a father and child shapes the path we walk in life. In my professor's case, his relationship with his father, Charlie Schwartz, was marked by missed opportunities for connection. Charlie was a quiet man who found solace in reading his newspaper alone under a street lamp in the Bronx. Maury and his brother David longed for their father's presence, but he rarely engaged with them or expressed affection. It was a void that Maury swore he would never replicate when he started his own family.

Years later, while Maury raised his own children, Charlie continued his routine walks, newspaper in hand. One fateful night, he encountered two robbers who demanded his money at gunpoint. In a panic, Charlie threw his wallet and fled, only to suffer a fatal heart attack on the porch of a relative's house. Maury was tasked with identifying his father's body at the morgue, an experience that left him numb with grief.

🌱 Embracing the Circle of Life

In the South American rainforest, the Dasana tribe holds a unique belief about the interconnectedness of all living beings. They view the world as a finite source of energy, flowing between creatures. Every birth is accompanied by a corresponding death, ensuring the balance of energy. When they hunt for food, they are aware that the animals they kill leave behind a hole in the spiritual wall. However, the tribe believes that the souls of the hunters who pass away will fill these gaps, completing the cycle of life.

My professor finds solace in this idea and shares it with me as he nears the end of his own journey. The realization that we are all creatures dwelling in the same forest prompts him to reflect on the importance of replenishing what we take. He believes that love is the key to immortality, allowing us to stay alive even after we are gone. It's a poignant sentiment that resonates deep within me.

[Resources:

• Brandeis University: https://www.brandeis.edu/
• Nightline: https://abcnews.go.com/nightline/
• CNN: https://www.cnn.com/]