O passer-by, deem it worthy

to get to know me who died too soon;

and you shall understand how unsteady fate can be,

for once I was seen as seasoned

in tales and training,

and now there is nothing but a grave and dust to see

 A young man left behind an epitaph with universal messages: that life is brief and unpredictable, that happiness is fragile, and that we all belong to the same circle. It is an invitation to live consciously, to learn from the experiences of others as well as from our own, to leave room each day for a moment that reminds us of what it means to be human.

An altar that beares this Greek inscription stands in the courtyard of the Tresije Monastery on Mount Kosmaj. Set among roses beside the path to the church, it appears as a mysterious witness of a remote past. Next to the stone altar there grows a lovely tree whose twisted branches hold dark red autumn fruits. One reminds us that life is constant change; the other, that death is constant presence. United in one image, they offer a simple reminder of how life unfolds, between what changes and what stays, between the moment and eternity.

To live consciously means accepting that life is short. When we remember that our time is finite, each day gains a weight and meaning we too easily overlook.