A question that arises at least once or twice a week in our house from Jamie is “Mom, Dad, is the world going to end in 2012?”
“No, Jamie, for the millionth time, the world is not going to end,” I said exasperatedly yesterday. “The world didn’t end in 2000 when everyone thought it would, and it isn’t going to end in 2012.”
Jamie ponders my answer, but I can tell I’ve hurt his feelings with the tone of my voice. “But Mom, how can you be sure it won’t end? Look at all the bad things happening today," he pauses. "Some of my friends are scared, too.”
From a ten-year-old’s perspective, I really need to cut him some serious slack, because his reasoning was dead-on: Massive tornado outbreaks, flooding, earthquakes, forest fires, tsunamis, political unrest in the Middle East, suicide bombers. To be honest, from an adult perspective it might even be hard to fathom that something sinister isn't afoot.
Jim always stresses this different approach. “You know, Jamie, the Earth is a big planet and has been here for a really long time. If the world were going to end, it would be something none of us would have control over. And I know it’s hard to understand or even to do, but you have to learn to not worry about things you can’t control, and just be happy with your life as it is right now.”
Jamie will generally fall silent, then remind us a few minutes later the exact date is December 21, 2012.
And damn if he isn’t right, according to eschatologists, whose job it is to determine the ultimate destiny of humanity via the studies of futurology, philosophy and theology. December 21, 2012 represents the end date of a 5,125 year long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar.
What do we have to look forward to? According to thousands of fascinating websites dedicated to doomsday theories, everything from spiritual enlightenment, a shift in our inner collective consciousness, Armageddon, massive solar storms, super volcano explosions, visitors from outer space, being sucked into a black hole, and my all-time personal favorite, the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant which now lies hidden in an Illinois cave.
But silliness aside, Jamie is becoming old enough to understand mortality, that we won’t all live forever but that he wants all of us to. He’s beginning to ask more questions about how old my grandparents were when they died, and if they were sick or healthy. On days when our family dog is moving slightly slower than normal, he asks how long Canaans are supposed to live and if Buck is a healthy dog.
I don’t remember how old I was when I was afraid to fall asleep (maybe third or fourth grade?), because I was worried I wouldn’t wake up the next morning. It only lasted a few weeks and I don’t remember talking to my mom or dad about it, but instead worried to myself in silence.
Jim and I are confident this too shall pass, but in the interim remind ourselves to be patient and understanding of his fears, and to point out all that is wonderful and positive in our world that we should celebrate, without oversimplifying or acting patronizing toward his feelings.
And as always, we will keep the lines of communication open for whatever Jamie or Jordan brings our way: We never know what they might teach us.
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