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Hi Jonathan,
I found you by reading an article you wrote for AARP, which led me to your HumbleDollar site and everyone’s articles. Very informative and useful!
I too got a surprise diagnosis of metasticized cancer a few years ago and fortunately have been successfully treated, so far. It has indeed illuminated my perspective on life. I expect to have more than a few months but am more cognizant of what is truly important in life.
I feel compelled to write you personally to offer my own investment advice, if one can call it that. I have chosen to invest my life for the long run, in my spiritual well being. I am a Christian – not religious, per se, but accepting of salvation that will last long after I leave here. For me it is too great a risk to leave my eternity to the “unknown.” There is a corny sounding but valid way of explaining the BIBLE – “B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.” I do not know what your beliefs are, but if you are not now and become a Christian, accepting God’s unconditional love and grace, you have a Heaven to look forward to. If not, separation from this. I’d hedge my bets as, there is a lot to win and nothing to lose.
Sincerly,
Kathleen
I’m puzzled by the “hedge my bets” piece. Surely faith is all in or it’s nothing?
I respect all religions and religious choices, but I’ve always found Pascal and his wager quite strange and flawed.
I agree — as a basis for belief in God, it attempts to remove faith, which rather defeats the point. Still, I consider it a clever way of thinking about other issues, because it gets us to ponder consequences:
https://humbledollar.com/2018/03/pascals-retirement/
Great point. It can definitely be a useful illustration for risk management in other areas of life and I enjoyed the way you used it in your article.
I follow the modified Golden Rule:
“Do unto others as they would have you do”.
And I would have people keep their religious views to themselves.