infiniteperspective.net

When I watch people doing extreme sports on TV, I can’t help but ask the question: Why do they do it? When I see the all-too-real dangers and pitfalls associated with these games such as those featured on Sports Disasters at AXN, I raise my hands in resignation, then close my fists, pound the object nearest me and yell: “Why? Why? Why?” After this initial outburst, I calm down and start waxing philosophical: While there are so many who are dying to live, why are there also those who are seemingly living to die? All sorts of games to make the latter more exciting have been invented. Skydiving, base jumping, bungee jumping, just to name a few, are some of the breathtaking stunts which, in my opinion, “flirt with death.” And for what? Is it because of the thrill? Perhaps the adrenaline rush that accompanies such a feat is too much resist. Is it because they want to test the limits of human strength and endurance? The human spirit is capable of accomplishing what seems impossible and maybe this is the best avenue for such. Is it because they want to defy nature? Perhaps this is one way of standing up to nature and claiming victory. Is it because they crave the attention? After all, such staggering exploits do give one a spot on national, sometimes even international, television. Or is it because they want just for one moment, that single, priceless moment, to cheat death? Perhaps, it would be worth the effort just to be able to proclaim that at one particular time, no matter how fleeting, you played with death and won.

It’s truly amazing how these types of sports draw their share of avid enthusiasts. Out of sheer volition, individuals spend loads of money on equipment and training just to be able to do it and experience the ultimate high. The knowledge that they might not make it out alive or at the very least, with body parts complete and bones unbroken, does not seem to stop them.

Picture the other end of the spectrum: You’re diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease and the doctor tells you that unless medical intervention is given (e.g. an operation or a series of treatments like chemotherapy for cancer, or dialysis for kidney disorders), you might snap out anytime soon. What would your response be? Not counting the initial crying episode, most would tell their doctor to go ahead and do what is best. Kindhearted souls pool together resources for that much-needed operation or therapy, with the hope that it will prolong the patient’s life. Meanwhile, the ailing individual psyches himself or herself up to fight the disease and survive, while summoning all the saints who would listen to intercede and pray to hasten his or her recovery. Rarely does one throw in the towel and “go gentle into that good night.” Suddenly, there are a lot of reasons to “rage, rage against the dying of the light.” Whether it be for a son or daughter, a career or the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, the myriad of motives to triumph against the disease and live becomes endless and the will to survive becomes ever more clear. When faced with the grim reality of saying hello to the Grim Reaper, one thinks of business left unfinished, of lands yet untraveled, of dreams yet unfulfilled, and immediately the primeval instinct to survive immediately comes into play.

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