One of the best things about being born into a doomsday cult is I’ve already managed to survive the End of The World.

Twice.

Now, thanks to Harold Camping it looks like I’ll get lucky three times.

Before last night’s iPad Tweet surfing I’d never heard of Camping’s cult or his very precise prediction for ‘The End’ today.

Although I have written a novel based on another American End Time cult, one my father was a minister in for the first ten years of my life, for some reason old Harry’s most recent claims that the world was going to end today (or at least millions would perish before the final judgement in October?) passed me by.

I only found out last night: today is the day.

You could write a book about what motivates people to make prophecies for, and believe in, the Apocalypse coming in their lifetime (and I kind of did—it’s called The Last Great Day), but this morning, changing my baby girl’s nappy, I got a new angle on it.

Shit.

For me, life is great at the moment. My novel has just been published (available from Readings and Dymocks); I’m appearing at the Emerging Writers’ Festival which begins next week, and as a first-time father I’m inspired everyday watching Honey Rose discover the amazing world around her. But I also understand not everyone feels as good as I do about their lives.

Maybe people who think their lives are basically shit cannot begin to fathom that such a ‘life’ could go on forever. Wars, government conspiracies, and a frighteningly unpredictable natural planet get too much for some. Earthquakes, floods and cyclones come to them as proof of an angry God and death would almost be a welcome reward for such a person. For some, heaven will not—and could not—ever be found on earth.

But what if there is no end. What if this universe goes on forever? Sure, it may change form, and even humanity may not survive, but something like it could likely be around for all—is there any other kind—eternity.

And that is awesome.

Magical.

What’s better is if you really concentrate on death, like some Buddhists do, by meditating on the thought: “I may die today; I may die today; I may die today” you might be able to come to some understanding that since none of us know when we’re gonna go, we might as well enjoy the moment; be present to the unfolding of the lotus flower that is a warm Autumn day.

Twenty degrees celsius in Melbourne—at the end of May?

Who could have predicted that.

Shit, not me.

N.B. Click here for extra FUN FACTS about The Worldwide Church of God, the doomsday cult I spent my first ten years in.