Frasch Ideas—Examine, Inquire, Explore

They’re dupes or are they?

• Posted by Theresa on February 13th, 2007 filed in Book Review, Believe It or Not

More from The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham:

Kitty said, “I can’t tell you how deeply moved by all I’ve seen at the convent. They’re wonderful, those nuns, they make me feel utterly worthless. They give up everything, their home, their country, love, children, freedom; and all the little things which I sometimes think must be harder still to give up, flowers and green fields, going for a walk on an autumn day, books and music, comfort, everything they give up, everything. And they do it so that they may devote themselves to a life of sacrifice and poverty, obedience, killing work, and prayer. To all of them this world is really and truly a place of exile. Life is a cross which they willingly bear, but in their hearts all the time is the desire - oh, it is so much stronger than desire, it’s a longing, an eager, passionate longing for the death which shall lead them to life everlasting.”

Kitty clasped her hands and looked at him (Waddington) with anguish.

“Suppose there is no life everlasting? Think what it means if death is really the end of all things. They’ve given up all for nothing. They’ve been cheated. They’re dupes.”

Waddington reflected for a little while. “I wonder. I wonder if it matters that what they have aimed at is illusion. Their lives are in themselves beautiful. I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.”

I find myself agreeing with both Kitty and Waddington. Like Kitty, I think that people that only live for the afterlife are dupes. I know some people who are so disgusted with Satan and his evil ways that they can’t really enjoy life here on earth. They are constantly focused on the bad, the evil, the sin of man. For them life is miserable and their only hope is heaven and living eternally with God in perfect peace (whatever that is). Some people aren’t that bad off, but they seem to live with one foot on earth and one foot in the Pearly Gates. Whatever happens here, they try to convince themselves, isn’t that bad and besides soon it will all be over because I will be in heaven.

Like Waddington, I wonder if it matters if what they have aimed at is an illusion. For people who truly enjoy life in the here and now, I would think, no, it doesn’t matter. They love life now and look forward to the afterlife. But if there is no afterlife, oh well, they lived the best they could, had fun and left a legacy, an indelible footprint here on earth.

I feel the most sorry for the people I know who are giving up themselves for something they think that God is telling them to do, or for their interpretation of the Word that prohibits them from being who they are. I want to shout, “This is all there is. Enjoy it!”

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