I decided that many of Bear's stories and comments shared a general drift. They advised against fearing all of creation. But not because it is always benign, for it is not. It will, with certainty, consume us all. We are made to be destroyed. We are kindling for the fire, and our lives will stand as naught against the onrush of time. Bear's position, if I understood it, was that refusal to fear these general terms of existence is an honorable act of defiance.
In "Thirteen Moons," Charles Frazier reflects on the lessons learned from Bear's stories, noting a common theme that encourages embracing life without succumbing to fear. Bear suggests that while creation is not inherently safe and will ultimately lead to our demise, this awareness can empower us. Instead of living in fear, we are urged to confront the reality of our existence and accept that life is fleeting and temporary.
Frazier interprets Bear's perspective as a call to defy the instinctual fear of life's uncertainties. By acknowledging our mortality and the relentless passage of time, we can choose to live authentically and boldly. Confronting the inevitability of destruction becomes a form of rebellion—a way to honor our existence and find meaning despite the inevitable end we all face.
