present life must not give rise to hatred or ingratitude towards God.
Even the constant prodding of affliction often fails to stir us to a proper awareness of our own wretchedness. The transitory nature of human life, like smoke or a passing shadow, is not a hidden truth known only to the learned; it is a proverb deeply rooted in the common consciousness. Though we acknowledge this fact, we rarely contemplate it or keep it in our memory. Instead, we make our plans as if our immortality were firmly grounded on this earth. It is true that when we encounter a funeral or walk among graves, the image of death confronts us, and we may philosophize eloquently about the vanity of life. However, such moments of reflection are often fleeting and hold little lasting impact. They vanish as soon as we turn away, leaving no trace of remembrance. In essence, they pass by like the applause in a theater after a pleasant spectacle. Forgetful not only of death itself but also of our own mortality, as if we have never heard a whisper of it, we indulge in complacent security, expecting an earthly immortality. Even if someone interjects with the proverb that "man is a creature of a day," we may acknowledge its truth, but it fails to truly penetrate our consciousness, for the concept of perpetuity still clings to our minds. Who can deny, then, the profound significance of being not merely reminded through words but thoroughly convinced through firsthand experience of the wretched condition of our earthly existence? Even when we are convinced, we often continue to gaze upon it with vicious and foolish admiration, as if it contained the sum of all that is good. But if God deems it necessary to train us in this manner, it is our solemn duty to heed His call and allow Him to shake us from our slumber, so that we may hasten to despise the world and wholeheartedly aspire to the life that is to come.
3. Yet the contempt that believers should cultivate towards the present life must not give rise to hatred or ingratitude towards God. Despite its abundance of wretchedness, this life is counted among the divine blessings that are not to be disregarded. Therefore, if we fail to recognize the kindness of God in it, we are guilty of ingratitude towards Him. To believers, in particular, it should serve as evidence of divine benevolence, as it is wholly intended to promote their