Sunday, August 16th, 2026, 12:24 pm
“Time to Heaven”
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oday I spoke with my in-laws (in their native tongue; I speak over 3 languages already, some better than others) and as elderly people, one of whom turns 80 in less than a year, one who never experienced old age is reminded about the hardships of old age (my own parents are younger, they are both 70).
When you are under 40, you might count how many years it has been since becoming adult or studying or working or marrying. At some point later in life the count refers to “time to live” or “time until retirement”, i.e. the numbers become smaller each year. After retirement it’s almost always just “time to live” (depending on one’s physical health).
More religious people think in terms like “afterlife” or “time to Heaven”, but superstition is not a harmless, victimless fantasy. Some people exploit this fantasy to work people to death, to make themselves richer. Some offer them alcohol (to sedate them) – that damages their body and kills them sooner.
