For All My “LOST” Friends…
I have completely, utterly and irretrievably missed the bandwagon on ‘Lost.’ And now that I’ve read this article, I’m sort of regretting it…
What ‘Lost’ Taught Us about Dying
Honest and truly, I have never seen an episode of ‘Lost’ (I’ll give you a moment to get over the shock)…
But I have thought about death, life, hope and redemption, which this article talks at length about. So what do you think?
Is ‘Lost’ a six-year extended riff on the human struggle for hope and redemption?
And is it possible to prepare for death? If it is possible, how do we do it?
May 27th, 2010 at 8:31 am
As someone who has watched most of the shows for Lost, with utter confusion at times, this article helps makes some sense out of a plot line that does not flow with usual plot lines. During the shows lifetime, there were a lot of people who died and remembered. At the same time, it was not until the last show that I realized there was religious undercurrent to the show. I do believe the struggle for hope and redemption is throughout this show – seen in the struggle to survive, to get off the island, and even when going up against other people who want to kill the survivors. At the same time, like the author said it leaves unanswered questions. In life there will always be unanswered questions, but there will always be family. So I think, especially after the finale, that the writers of the show got the point about relationship being important right. It is not about what we have – material things, but about what we have in community with others – family and friends. I did think it was beautiful that it was Jack’s father, Christian Shepherd, who guided them in one of the last scenes to the next place they were going.
To try to answer your second and third questions, I do not believe we are ever able to prepare fully for death. That said, I do believe that how we live our lives brings us closer to being prepared for death. Meaning that if we “seize the day,” not necessarily by going out and jumping out of a plane. But by making a point to live in community with others, taking the risk love and be loved. As we do this, life I have found takes on new meaning and it is easier to accept death when it comes. Most times when I have encountered people who are dying in the hospital, they are not talking about material things or activities that are unfinished. Usually it is about a broken relationship or being alone or something involving family or friend that has created a burden. Relationship is a key component to our lives, and can even affect our death in such a way that all it takes is for someone who is estranged to be in the room for the patient to accept death. It is amazing what reconciliation does for the dying.
I hope this helps as you wrestle with these questions.
May 27th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Love the show LOST. When people ask me why, I say that there is no other show that gets me to think about faith, religion, science, philosophy, literature, sociology, and the nature of humanity quite like LOST does.
It was a beautiful journey and has spurred so many conversations along the way for those who watched it! It truly was a gift to us the viewers and a gift to the writers, like any great show is!
Obviously, I’m a bit of a fan!
Can’t believe you haven’t seen it Krista, it is right up your alley!
And that article was beautiful, thanks for posting it. I definitely agree that LOST has been about death, hope, and redemption. But the thing is, I don’t think anyone can say LOST was just about one thing, and that is what makes it a great story!!!
May 27th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Thanks for your comments! It is really amazing that this show has caught the attention of so many and kept it for so long. It is clear that the themes in the show have touched on some of the deep questions of our time.
When I read the article (having never seen ‘Lost’), I was drawn to what the author says about preparing for death, and about the journey toward hope and redemption, which ‘Lost’ engaged allegorically. His words made me think a great deal of one of my literary mentors, Henri Nouwen, who wrote at length about how we might prepare for death, prepare our loved ones for our death, and finally die well in a way that blesses and frees our loved ones.
Here are some thoughts from his book, Bread for the Journey:
“We will all die one day. That is one of the few things we can be sure of. But will we die well? That is less certain. Dying well means dying for others, making our lives fruitful for those we leave behind. The big question, therefore, is not “What can I still do in the years I have left to live?” but “How can I prepare myself for my death so that my life can continue to bear fruit in the generations that will follow me?”
Jesus died well because through dying he sent his Spirit of Love to his friends, who with that Holy Spirit could live better lives. Can we also send the Spirit of Love to our friends when we leave them? Or are we too worried about what we can still do? Dying can become our greatest gift if we prepare ourselves to die well.”