I was just reading some in Matthew J. O'Connell's translation of Moreschini and Norelli's Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature: A Literary History. And sometimes things just hit me. Like this, talking about the second dialog between Jesus and James in the First Apocalypse of James, a gnostic dialogue from the Nag Hammadi Library:

After the passion (30.12-31.1), Jesus appears again to James, comments on his passion, attributing it to the heavenly archons, and explains in detail how James can answer the heavenly "customs officers" who will attempt to restrain his spirit after death. (Moreschini and Norelli, 143)

Sometimes, despite my best attempts to prevent it, mortality peeks around the corner just to remind me that ashes do pass to ashes, and dust does indeed turn into dust again. I'm a sojourner, and someday my time here will end.

Mortality "peeked around the corner" when I read the above paragraph.

Some day, and only the Lord knows when, this life of mine will end. It may be tonight, it may be 70 years from now (I'd be 104 -- Hopefully Christ returns or takes me home before then). But I don't think about it much for a few reasons.

First, I'm scared. I have no clue, beyond vague generalities, about what happens the moment after I breathe my last breath.

Second, I'm busy. I have too much to do. This is a mixed blessing; I'm sure that a huge portion of what I busy myself with really has little consequence in the scope of eternity. But I also know that God will prepare me for the tasks he has in store for me; so I need to try my best to heed his direction in all that I do. But many times, busy-ness distracts from this.

Third, I have hope. I know there is more to living than this sad, sinful existence we have here now. This makes the uncertainty bearable. Life in the fullest awaits. Further up, Further in!

I know I don't need to worry about "customs officers" hassling me in some other-worldly place I arrive in after death. My salvation is secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. So when mortality "peeks around the corner", that's OK. Actually, it is a good thing. I need to be reminded that I am destined for other things (cf. EpDiog 5.5), to help keep my eyes focused on that which is ahead of me (cf. Php 3.12-16).