Would you like to live forever? Would you want to discover a fountain of youth? These are questions I’ve been pondering since I began watching this new television series on ABC starring Ioan Gruffudd, which is ironically titled the same, “Forever”.
The premise of this series is about a New York City medical examiner named Dr. Henry Morgan who has been trying to discover the reason for his immortality for over 200 years. What is even more interesting about this show is its science fiction spin with how Henry never ages and how if by some chance he dies by gunshot or some other random tragic event, he only wakes up in a body of water nearby, completely naked and looking exactly the same. While the science fiction of “Forever” may be a little far-fetched for anyone to believe it could ever happen in real life, the idea of discovering a fountain of youth someday probably does interest a large amount of the world’s population, except I must say I’m not one of them.
I can honestly admit that I wouldn’t want to go on to live forever, at least in this physical vessel. Of course I should state my belief that there’s a soul within me immortal already. But stepping aside from having that philosophical discussion about the existence of a soul, I truly can’t imagine what it would be like to remain 42 years old for centuries and millenniums to come. Would it be interesting to see how technologies evolved (or didn’t), whether equality grew (or not), or did the planet head towards world peace (or further war)? Sure, but there are so many things I wouldn’t want to see though.
Following the example of “Forever”, let’s pretend only I have this fountain of youth. The idea of watching my entire family and loved ones grow old and die doesn’t seem all too alluring. Neither does it seem that enticing to me to watch the person I’m in love with grow old and die while I’m left behind having only the option of restarting the process all over again. I think I’d also fear my immortality would get discovered just like Henry does in the show, because then I’d probably just become someone’s government lab rat if that were to happen. But let’s change the example for hypothetical purposes and say the entire world discovers this fountain of youth. Overcrowding would then occur, which most likely would only lead to higher governmental controls, and in turn that undoubtedly would just amplify everything exponentially we are already seeing happening in our world today.
Territorial wars, civil unrest, the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and people becoming more selfish and self-centered, that’s what I believe would transpire if the fountain of youth were discovered one day. There are actually several great movies that have depicted this already with one of my personal favorites being “In Time”. Elysium is also another interesting one to check out as well.
The fact remains that I kind of like the spiritual changes I’ve been going through so far in life of being a kid and then growing into my teenage years, and of becoming a young adult and then maturing into full adulthood, which is where my spiritual journey has me right now. While the idea of growing old may scare me slightly, especially in a world so obsessed with beauty and good looks, I think it would scare me a whole heck of a lot more if I remained this age and then endured something tragic such as becoming paralyzed, losing my limbs, becoming blind or deaf, and having to live with any of those conditions for an eternity.
So I may not like the wrinkles that are developing, or the gray hair that’s spreading, or the aches and pains that are growing, but there is one thing I really do like about my mortality. It’s watching my spirituality grow as I continue to age and evolve and believing the immorality and fountain of youth already resides deep within me, simply waiting to return home to its loving Source. In the meantime, I’m going to continue enjoying watching television series like “Forever” knowing I too would be just like Dr. Henry Morgan, longing to end his repetitive cycle of life without death…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
I have romanced this idea – presented in sci-fi and fiction hundreds of different ways. “Wolverine,” “Highlander,” “Interview With A Vampire,” even (God help us) the “Twilight” stories all portray immortality as quite a drag. It would be interesting to see how someone who was both immortal and virtuous could be a force for good over centuries – but even that wouldn’t work. If Martin Luther King re-appeared right now, no one would be listening to his message….they’d be wondering “how’dja DO it, Marty?”
Nope, I’d much rather choose to be reincarnated – preferably as a guy, and with my memories intact – so I don’t have to relearn all those painful lessons. Absent that option, I’ll take one run around the dance floor, for as long as I can dance….
I totally agree…but I think I’d be open to being a girl as I am in touch with my feminine side. LOL.