The Last 72 Hours

For many of us who are healthy, happy and whole, the concept of death seems like a distant idea, one that we keep pushing away to the back of our minds. We live each day forgetting that it may be our last in this transient world. We search for different ways to improve our lives—to be the best, to do the best, to have the best. But can we really live our best if we can’t face the fact that life comes with an expiry date?

The 2010 “Last 72” writing contest jointly organized by the Fountain Magazine and Everest Production invited writers to describe what it would be like for them if they suddenly had to live out three days as though it was their last by addressing the question “What would you do if you had only 72 hours to live?” This was by no means an easy question to answer. Still, people from over 25 countries and 44 US states sent in their entries. Instead of fantasy bucket lists, guidelines insisted writers create and compose in their writing, realistic tasks capable of uplifting lives.

Hundreds poured troheir hearts out, detailing the wrongs they needed to right, the lost loved ones they needed to find, and the reunions they needed to organize. We were able to have a glimpse of what really mattered to most people when we read their reflections on their departure from this world.

The general picture reflected that all people, irrespective of faith, color or background, shared similar wishes before their death. On the whole, most people tended to remember their loved ones and appreciated their value more when death was in question. Just as a child seeks their mother in times of trouble, it seems that human nature leads us to spend our final hours with family members, even if some of them have been neglected for a long time.

Interestingly, many people expressed their concerns about “this world” even though they were about to leave it for good, not giving much thought to the possible source of the yearning we feel for eternity. Rumi compares the human soul’s yearning for eternity to a reed flute crying for the reed-bed it misses, longing for reunion with the Beloved. But the reunion may not be welcome for the ones who insist on leading a tone-deaf life.

In brief, we have picked the articles of the finalists whose stories stood out. In this book, you will find the heroes of the Pacific, treasure jars that contain invaluable memories, hopes and regrets, highs and lows, and everything in between that makes life worth living. When you finish the book, you may write your own answer and ask yourself: “What would I do if I had only 72 hours to live?”