Life is fragile

This is a complete departure from what I usually write about – politics. It may come as a welcome relief, were it not about death. But there are times when you look at the bigger picture, and realise that it is not worth the hassle. Nothing is, really – for life is too short. This week, a man in his fifties, a former athlete, a healthy man, cycled to his destination and was carried back. He collapsed, and died. He was in his prime.

This is not a tribute to Gerald DeGaetano, the former athlete; the healthy middle-aged man, for I never met the deceased gentleman, and you don’t pay tributes to people you don’t know. This is an article about the fragility of life. That life is fragile – we all agree. But it is a topic which we often ignore. Till the inevitable happens – a life is cut short. Then we lament the cruelty of death – especially when it harvests the young.

The good die young

Mr DeGaetano, we were told, was a good man. I have no reason to doubt that. If anything, it fuels my anecdotal impression that the good die young.

Those who, like me, never met Gerald DeGaetano, can only imagine a healthy middle-aged man, brimming with life who cycled to a place and was carried back, unconsciously, and then dead. Poor man, his head must have been full of unfinished plans, and thoughts and challenges, and targets to be reached. It’s what healthy people do.

But life is truly perplexing. One second you’re here, next you’re gone.

For crying out loud, what good could come out of the sudden death of a healthy, good man? Hard to think of anything positive to say at such tragic moments. But if only we stop, and reflect on the fragility of life. Only then do we realise that life is beautiful but could be too short - which makes it worth living, and how essential it is to respect and love our fellow human beings.

We worry, at times too much. We bicker, and spend sleepless nights planning our next move. But when you look at the bigger picture - you realise it’s not worth it. We are far too engrossed in ourselves. And life is full of twists, and at times - sudden, tragic turns.

Human hands were made for holding each other – and that is one thing we need to do more. For each and every one of us is special in his and her own way.

  Frank Psaila is a lawyer and anchors Iswed fuq l-Abjad on NET TV