As the year wears down, the days become shorter, the nights longer and darker. All people, both in our time and in ancient time, turn to questions of human mortality and the future of the earth.

When I was in Mexico at the end of October, I saw the preparation for El Dia de los Muertos, "The Day of the Dead." Shrines were being erected in anticipation of November 2. The picture of the deceased loved one will be placed in the middle of the shrine, the frame of the shrine will be decked with beautiful yellow flowers.

The custom is to place food offerings for the dead in front of the shrine, their favorite menu. One of our team members was walking around the town in which we were staying. Some of the shrines had already been set up. He came back and said that the food offering at one shrine…