Heaven and earth are not like humans, they are impartial. They regard all things as insignificant, as though they were playthings made of straw. The wise man is also impartial. To him all men are alike and unimportant.

Despite the departure from my family’s religion, years ago I was more afraid than I am today of death — fearful of an end I was told would never really come, but too afraid of retribution to admit I didn’t believe.

I used to consider myself a Christian then. Now I don’t. Socializing in spirituality seems unproductive to me because I find too many ambiguities in the negotiation of relationships, even those with a god.

Besides, we only submit to faith for comfort from death’s unknown. Instead of fear, I’d rather spend my remaining thirty something years with my family, pondering the end and exploring life within my own context — as isolated as possible from a trivial, meaningless reality.