Thinking of the Norse Gods while traveling in Norway it seemed to make perfect sense that the world must come to an end someday, even the gods themselves. The further north one goes one sees the harshness that man must overcome to live there with a year sliced half in darkness and half in light. Maybe even the deities that guide such a world must succumb at some point.
Odin gave an eye for wisdom. He had to sacrifice total sight. His daughter, Brunnhilde, gave up her freedom for the compassion she felt. She languished for centuries in a ring of fire. Sacrifice was part of the story for every one, god , goddess or human.
We know the sun will not sustain us forever. Or the land. Or the hatreds we engender with each other to make battle. We are flawed as these Norse gods were flawed. Let us enjoy what we can, and leave the goodness here when we must leave.
Gotterdammerung. Judgment Day. Whatever you call it, it’s part of the story.
Writing Across the Genres 