Can self-sacrifice lead to one's ultimate demise?
My summer reading book, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, took me on a journey through the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Earth. This journey involved the two main characters, a son and his father. Every page bled with the father's self-sacrifice, so raw and heart-wrenching. Everything the man did was on his son's behalf; hunting for food, killing possible predators, and staying up to keep a fire burning despite his worsening tuberculosis. This example of self-sacrifice made me question the way I was living my life: If the world was crumbling around me, would I have what it takes to support myself and save others?
A second example of self-sacrifice is a man I heard about in school who, instead of saving himself from the freezing water after a plane crash, helped others to safety. This man had two choices: 1. He could save himself or 2. He could save others. This man chose to save others, something that most people would never even think twice about. He didn't save others to reap the rewards of being a "hero". Rather, he saw an opportunity to show love and compassion, and with his actions, he made a significant impact on a countless number of people.
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is a more widely-known example of self-sacrifice. He was willing to be beaten, humiliated, and nailed to a cross by his starved limbs so we could one day be welcomed into his kingdom.
These selfless people were aware of what was to come from their bravery. After pondering this question, I've come to believe that someone who is willing to sacrifice themselves for another is not worried about their so-called demise. They put others first without thinking about themselves or their needs or their possible death. Helping or even saving others makes these incredible people's lives worth living. Or for us, their actions make their lives worth celebrating.
