The Bright Side of Doomsday

Are these post-apocalyptic video games really preparing children for the end of the world? The Onion News Network (www.theonion.com) did a funny commentary on this very subject. They reported that while these games, set after a nuclear holocaust, do teach kids how to find and raid ammunition stores so they can shoot up zombie mutants… they really don’t instruct youths in basic doomsday survival skills. You know… how to get clean drinking water, build a shelter and hunt food.

All doomsday joking aside, as we approach the hoary year 2012, a variety of predictions abound – ranging from hopeful to horrible…

1. The collapse of Western civilization. This wouldn’t surprise me and it may be time to hit the “reset” button.
2. We blow ourselves up. Personally, I’d rather this one doesn’t happen – though it’s a theme I explore in my upcoming novella, All the Humans are Sleeping.
3. Aliens come, before we press the button (per #2) and tell us to get our act together or they’ll blast us to pieces (e.g. The Day the Earth Stood Still).
4. We all evolve into some higher level of spiritual existence where most of the goals and necessities we hold dear to today become irrelevant and rather petty.

Or nothing much happens. Much like W2K we end up with six months of protein bars we’ll have to eat before the expiry date.

But if some variation on 1, 2, 3 or 4 came about, life as we know it now would come to an end (and in the case of #2, life, period, would come to an end). Now, I’m not trying to be morbid or anything. Such a global shift serves as a prod to get us moving on whatever it is we feel we are supposed to be doing with our life – not waiting for tomorrow.

Case in point, for five years I’ve been putting off completing and releasing my first three novellas, The Redemption of Talafi, Esum and All the Humans are Sleeping. Always something got in the way.

And, if 2012 comes about, and sends us back to pioneer days leaving a local newspaper as my only publishing opportunity – I’ll have missed my chance. No more internet. No more on demand self-publishing.

2012 or not… Who knows how long our way of life will continue. Some argue it’s sustainable. Others say it isn’t. But, global crisis aside, a car may hit us tomorrow.

The time to make things happen is now. Even if only a baby step each day. No matter which way you look at it – life isn’t long.

And even with reincarnation, you still need to put up with the initial six years where you retrain your new body and mind in the art of walking, talking, eating, peeing and pooing…

The next six years (age 7-12) focus in on reading, writing and arithmetic.

The following six years (13-18) are generally wasted as a misguided teen.

Followed by another six years (19-24) which make the previous six look productive.

Usually something called “responsibility” kicks in over the next six years (24-30).

After that we’re 30 and we finally get our act together and pick up where you left off last life.

In short, we may have forever… and that’s the problem.

Therefore, doomsday or renaissance, 2012 gives us a good kick to take advantage of what life has to offer us now, today, 2008. And, it’s just a hunch, but I doubt these shoot up the zombie video games are really helping.

Namaste,

John C. A. Manley
www.metaphysicalSF.com

P.S. 1,114 days until December 21, 2012 (the exact date when the Mayans predicted the “end of the world”). What are you going to do with the next 40 months?

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About the Author: John C. A. Manley writes writes spiritual science fiction and fantasy novellas. He's been practicing Kriya Yoga since 1996. For three years he lived in in hindu monastery in the mountains of of Southern California. He currently lives in Stratford, Ontario with his wife Nicole, son Jonah and cat Astral. Click here to read more or click here to subscribe to his MetaphysicalSF email column.