From a Washington Post column by Michael Gerson headlined “Amid war, acts of justice and kindness are as important as missiles”:

For a soldier sent to the front, or to the victim of a massive heart attack, death can arrive quickly — like a thief stealing everything they value most. For those with chronic illnesses such as cancer or Parkinson’s disease, the reality of mortality is more like a ride on a river, running through a series of higher, more dangerous waterfalls. Eventually, the current gets too strong and the rocks too sharp for a rider to survive.