“This Year has Gone by so Quickly” - Caroline Tucker

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“This year has gone by so quickly”
The section of “Die drei Leute Vom Labor” where Levi overhears the women of the chemical lab talk about how fast the year had gone by and Levi thinks about his life a year before, really impacted me. 
When I read the line “This year has gone by so quickly”, I instantly thought about my life a year ago. A year ago, I was a senior in high school who had no idea where I was going. I had so much fear about what my new life in college would be like. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about.
After having these thoughts, I continued reading. As Levi recalled all the things about his life before Auschwitz, I realized how blessed I am that a year later I am still in a great situation. I did not go from good situation to a terrible situation like Levi did. I left home and have grown in many ways. For that, I am thankful.
As Levi continues to think, he starts thinking about his life inside Auschwitz and how he is slowing dying physically and in spirit. He then thinks, “I am not alive enough to kill myself.” That line penetrated my heart. At that moment, Levi saw no way to continue but also no way to end. He saw no way out. At this moment, is Levi a man or just a number? 
We need to remember where we have come from and where we are no matter how good or bad our past may have been. We need to remember so that we do not turn into just a number but remember who God made us to be. 
“This year has gone by so quickly.”

P.S. I commented on Breanna’s and Rebecca’s posts.

Comments

Drew Hedden said…
Very thoughtful writing. As much as it's a cliche to say, reading this really does provide a lot of perspective as to what could be considered difficult in my life. Survival in Auschwitz honestly provides a lot of context as to what is truly a hardship or a simple inconvenience. Reading this book was mentally rough..I can never understand just how awful it was for Levi to get to the place emotionally and mentally where he was prepared to take his own life and still didn't feel like it would improve his situation.
February 9, 2020 at 9:51 PM
Moriah Nelson said…
Those lines stood out to me as well as I was reading through the end of Levi's book this weekend. It was incredible to me to see the slow transformation in Levi as he went from his internal conflict of being dead, yet alive, to the end of the book as he remembers his humanity by caring for others and hearing their stories. The very last line of the book may have not meant to be such a stark statement, but for me it is powerful: "I hope to see him again one day" (Levi 206). Levi regains his ability to hope and that was so redeeming to read in relation to the hopelessness he endured during his year in the camp.
February 10, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Zane Duke said…
I like your ending point, Caroline. The truth and the facts about situations past will really help you if you reflect on them in your present situation. That was actually one of my New Year's resolutions: to remember my why. I find myself nowadays feeling entitled to certain things, such as good equipment, internships, money (from working), and so many different things. It really helps to remember the time that I didn't have the opportunity to use any of that. I too am thankful for the gifts I have been given in life, and I hope to stay out of the numbness of entitlement for good.
February 10, 2020 at 8:33 PM
Luke Killam said…
A year can fly by so quickly, especially when one is numb. It was insane to think of where he was at when he was no longer inside the camp. He saw no way to live and no way to die. No way to thrive and no way to escape.

We are such an overly blessed people.
February 10, 2020 at 8:34 PM
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