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The inevitability of Death

May 8, 2008
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An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan

I have just finished reading An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan by Jason Elliot which I heartily recommend.

In it is a story told to the author which just struck a fatalistic chord with me, I don't know why? It just did.

A young follower of a Sufi master is sitting in a cafe in Baghdad when he overhears Death talking about the number of calls he has to make over the next couple of days in the city.

In order to ensure he is not on the list, the young disciple runs off to Samarkand.

A few days later Death visits the Sufi master to enquire about the young disciple's whereabouts. "Oh he's probably in the bazaar" says the Sufi master somewhat distractedly.

"How strange?" replies Death consulting his list. "It says here I'm due to meet with him in Samarkand."