In a provocative article, New York University philosophy professor Samuel Scheffler proclaims that he unequivocally believes in life after death. He asserts that he is absolutely certain that those who we know and who are affected by our presence will continue to live after we are gone. That is the one “life after death” concept that we can all agree on. And so, he says, we must live our lives with that realization every day. The world will not be erased after we have left it, and the memories that we have left, like the bubbling wake of a boat as it moves through the ocean, will linger for as long as they are meaningful for others.
This is not a coronavirus-induced insight, it is an idea that we should embrace throughout our lives. We create a wake as we pass through the temporal space of the lives of others. What will we do to ensure that their memories of us will be filled with as much joy and wisdom as we can possible leave? This is not an end of life question, it’s an everyday concern, because if we truly wish to bless our loved ones (as well as anyone else we know) with our presence we have to live our lives intentionally, with purpose, and certainly with integrity.
— Rabbi Ron Stern