Memento Mori

I’ve always been one of those who sees the glass half-full. Yet, I am married to someone (who probably wouldn’t admit it) who sees the glass half-empty. Here is a simple example.

I have an app on my phone that reminds me to pray the Angelus at 6:00 am, 12:00 noon, and 6:00 pm. The notification sounds like bells chiming. Whenever I hear it, I think of church bells calling me to prayer.

One day after it rang, my husband said out of the blue, “I hate that.”

Surprised by his comment, I asked why.

He said, “It sounds like the Grim Reaper coming.”

I actually laughed at the absurdity, but then I started thinking about it. Now when it rings, I hear it both ways, as a call to prayer and as a warning—memento mori (Latin for, remember that you must die).

It’s interesting to see things from a different perspective. I still love the sound of the app chiming me to prayer, but now, I keep in mind that life is short and death is right around the corner.

Photo by Luigi Boccardo on Unsplash