War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning, by Chris Hedges

[abaris]

I've never been in organized combat, but I was a firefighter in the Air Force and as such saw a few SHTF moments, where the balance between living and dying was pretty fine. I didn't have the time nor inclination to notice any paranormal stuff. I was too busy working on the problem at hand, taking charge of my own survival and where necessary the survival of my brotha firedogs.

I experienced the same when being a medic some 20 years ago. I've seen my share of bodies and the dying. I never once stopped to consider if they're going to heaven. Just the tragedy and unerlying banality of it. With time and experience even the tragedy vanished and only the banality stayed.