We Don’t Get To Choose Our Time. . .
[DISCLAIMER: Excerpted from Marvel’s Dr. Strange movie. Script copyright belongs to them or rightful owner. Transcript errors all mine.”
I was watching Dr. Strange again for the nth time earlier today. The dialogue at the passing of the Ancient One always moves me. Here it is below.
“Dr. Strange: You have to return to your body. You don’t have time.
The Ancient One: Time is relative. Your body hasn’t even hit the floor yet. I spent so many years, peering through time, looking at this exact moment. But I can’t see past it. I have prevented countless terrible futures and after each one, there is always another; and they all lead here. Bit never further.
Dr Strange: You think this is where you die?
The Ancient One: You wonder what I see in your future?
Dr. Strange: No. . . Yeah. . .
The Ancient One: I never saw your future. Only it’s possibilities. You have such a capacity for goodness. You always excelled but not because you craved success but because of your fear of failure.
Dr. Strange: It’s what made me a great doctor.
The Ancient One: mm. . . It’s precisely what kept you from greatness. Arrogance and fear still keep you from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all.
Dr. Strange: Which is?
The Ancient One: It’s not about you. When you first came to me, you asked me how I was able to heal Jonathan Pangborne. I didn’t. He channels dimensional energy directly into his own body.
Dr Strange: He uses magic to ward!
The Ancient One: Constantly. He has a choice. To return to his old life or to serve something greater than himself.
Dr. Strange: So I get back my hands again? My old life?
The Ancient One: You could. And the world will be all the lesser for it. I have hated drawing power from the dark dimension; but as you well know one must sometimes break the rules in order to serve the greater good.
Dr. Strange: Mordo won’t see it that way.
The Ancient One: Mordo’s soul is rigid and unmoveable. Forged by the fires of his youth. He needs your flexibility. Just as you need his strength. Only together do you stand a chance of stopping Dormamu.
Dr. Strange: I’m not ready.
The Ancient One: No one ever is. We don’t get to choose our time. Death is what gives life meaning. To know your days are numbered, your time is short. You think after all this time I might be ready; but look at me. Stretching one moment out into a thousand. Just so that I can watch the snow.”
We don’t get to choose our time. Life. Hangs. By. A. Thread.
So. Always. Be good. Do good.
Peace
S