Both the possibility and the certainty of death can and should inspire us to more fully live life. Death is not so far off as we would all like to think. And sometimes when it knocks at our door-- even as a misunderstanding or as an ill-turned jest-- we can allow the thought of death to positively change and inspire us so that we live life more fully. We see this in LOTR, and find it quite inspiring when impending death inspires a character to great and courageous deeds:
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‘Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,’ [Treebeard] said slowly, ‘likely enough that we are going to our doom: the last march of the Ents. But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later.
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‘My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed. I felled the black serpent. A grim morn, and a glad day, and a golden sunset!’
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Then suddenly he beheld his sister Éowyn as she lay, and he knew her. .... A fey mood took him.... Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!’
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‘So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started,’ thought Sam: ‘to help Mr. Frodo to the last step and then die with him? Well, if that is the job then I must do it.'
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The essence of these quotes seems to me to be this: If my time is limited, then I should spend it aright, doing my duty, doing that which is good.
But whether short or long, our time is still limited; nor do we know when we will meet our end. Shall we not then spend each day as well, as nobly and as dutifully as if it were our last? If we do so, then at the end, we may look back and see that each day was truly well-spent.