Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.50

That which has grown from the earth to the earth,

But that which has sprung from heavenly seed,

Back to the heavenly realms returns.

This is either dissolution of the mutual involution of the atoms, or a similar dispersion of the incorruptible elements.

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 7 (tr Long)

We are sad to see good things go away, and happy to see bad things go away. First, of course, whether they are good or bad for us depends entirely on us, but further, why should their staying or going make them any better or worse? Is the quality of their benefit or harm in any way increased by the quantity of the time they endure?

Something is completely what it is at any moment that it exists, and becomes no more of what it is by existing at any other moment. Its nature is whole whenever or wherever it is.

We say, “Take a picture, it’ll last longer!” Does it really need to last longer? A book is no better if it takes more time to read, and a sunset would be no more beautiful if it lasted all day. My love for a friend is no deeper if we have a day or a decade together, and my life is no greater for being lengthier.

Like a good meal, just because there is more of it does not make it better, yet we still confuse “how much” with “how good”. When faced with the fact that what we prefer will cease to be, this makes us uncomfortable. Why can’t it go on and on and on? It hardly seems fair.

Yet it is quite fair, because everything that comes into being has the complete opportunity to be according to its nature, whether for longer or shorter, and then to serve on by contributing to the nature of a something else. It comes together, it disperses, and it becomes something new.

Marcus Aurelius is here referring to lines from a play by Euripides, and it is always a part of the drama of life that we will either long for change or fear it. People may pine for what has gone away, or be eager for what is to come, but we hardly need to do either. It will be when it is meant to be, and it will cease to be when it has played its part. There is no need to hold it in place, or to rush it along.

Discover what is good within it, appreciate it, be grateful for it, and be happy that it has passed into something else to discover, appreciate, and be grateful for.

Whatever it was made of, it will return back into, each thing according to its own nature and parts. But what exactly will happen to it, and, more importantly perhaps, what will happen to me? Surely it is enough to know that each thing goes back to its source, whatever it may be, and that this will be an expression of what is right and good. There need be no worries where the ways of Nature are concerned.

Written in 12/2007

IMAGE: M.C. Escher, Magic Mirror (1946)