It feels a bit unnerving when we realize just how little we know about life and even how much less we know about death. We often muddle through life as best we can, surely stumbling along the way, and wondering mostly what it all really means. When it comes to death, our only recourse is speculation as to what might come next. In confronting death’s inevitability we usually conclude that it is only by virtue of our mortality that life gains a certain sweetness and assumes a sacred quality.

What an extraordinary gift life really is, and in order to live life well we recognize a number of responsibilities we must assume in lifting society (our lives in conjunction with others), to a high level of moral interactions. Morality sits squarely in understanding life as a gift not of our own making. Life finds us; we never asked for it. Life makes demands on us, mainly to show respect for this gift…this bit of grace that grants us the privilege of wandering the creation. Life demands that we walk humbly and understand the expectation to enrich our life and the lives of others, and never defile it. The source of life remains enigmatic, with different understandings veering into theology, science, and philosophy. But regardless of one’s religious or secular bent, we find a startling unanimity in belief -- a common belief among us all – that life possesses an inherent quality of holiness…defined by each individual differently but acknowledged by all as unique in its awe and splendor.

The huge question of what follows life defies certainty and exactitude, and we puzzle the meaning of it all. Responding to questions about life and death keeps clergypersons busy… and employed: We confess to not much wisdom, but we at least commit ourselves to reflecting about such matters, reminding our respective communities that we need to live with greater generosity towards others. Our task is also to console and comfort those who stare at death through the lens of a dreaded diagnosis or who as a survivor of losing a loved one, must learn again how to reconnect with life’s boundless beauty.

If one does not fully understand life’s meaning, which allows us all entry into to the same club, then the least we can do as mortal beings is to respect human life and the inherent dignity that lies at the heart of every pulse beat. What often complicates matters is that not all people respect life. Some people are intent to harm and injure others. As a society, we struggle with notions of fairness and justice, and try to keep each other safe by isolating those who for whatever reason violate the core values of decent behavior.

What all civilized societies throughout the world have learned, with the exception of China, N. Korea, Iran, and the United States, is that despite the base punitive nature of humans to seek retribution for acts of violence, we can not allow ourselves to abandon the fundamental moral claim that life must be respected as sacred and beyond our ken. Extinguishing life is NOT a human option, and does not fall under the purview of society. Murdering the murderer creates neither justice nor settles any score. Government and the courts have no authority to cross the line into what is unequivocally sacred ground by killing another human being.

Taking the life of another person violates every moral principle to which we have been entrusted. Vengeance can never be disguised as justice. Vengeance threatens the moral fibers of our community, and we must understand that it is only hubris that twists our thinking that WE have the right to intrude on life’s hallowedness.

When we start despising wrongdoing more than we love the good, society unravels. We’re going to have to stretch our hearts and open our minds and strengthen our souls in order to take on the imperfections of the world and rise above despair. If we fail to honor life, we lose our connections with all that is sacred.