The Moral of the Story

I enjoy watching old films made before the time the movie companies shifted from presenting a moral to trying to outdo each other in body counts or glorifying some thug subculture. One of my favorites is “You Can’t Take it With You.” The basic moral in that movie is that friends trump money every time. Friends are important, not just for our social well being here and now, but for the common man’s shot at immortality.

Precious few of us will live on in the style of the Rembrandts, Twains, and Pavarottis but we do have a shot at “Immortality lite” by living on in the hearts and minds of our friends. Conversely, one never loses a friend or relative who dies as that soul lives on in the heart and mind fresh as the day of first meeting. Most religions have a life after death clause of some sort but I believe the closest we’ll get is to be remembered by those who love us and there is a side benefit in the here and now as love and camaraderie spread through society.

The moral of the story is to be kind and reach out, be open to others, develop friendships, and aside from a shot at immortality one might find that he or she has also brought some joy and love into others lives. Not a bad deal for everyone involved.