Lets talk about death. As probably the oldest here, It would be reasonable to assume think about it a lot. No, not so much. Not after I figured it all out: the convictions to follow...
But I'll start out with a question to those who wish to discuss the subject:
Why would someone who believes they are going to heaven be fearful of death?
"Oh death, where is thy sting?"
Or, from "Porgy and Bess' "Tired of livin' afraid of dyin' "
Jesus is quoted as saying that he came that we have life and live it more abundantly.
I found out today that a young student at my school, who worked with me at the bookstore, who was very involved in student activities and was a friend of mine, died.
Some people have to go through too much in their lives. On November 12th I lost a good friend and former roommate Robyn. She was 27 years old and died very suddenly of a thrombosis in her leg. These past few days I find myself thinking a lot about her and the time following her death. She was an active member of my church community - a member of the choir and the board. Her loss was felt acutely at church - it really shook us all up that someone who was the picture of health could die so suddenly of natural causes.
A few years ago I stumbled upon this poem. There was no author mentioned in the resource in which I found it, and I've often found it a valuable reading to use (especially right before an interment) as it really does (to me at least) put life and its purpose (even with all its struggles and challenges) into some sort of perspective. I just thought I'd share it.
As some of you know, my mother passed away last week. I don't intend on this being a thread to express condolances but rather one where we talk about how to keep memories alive, or how to cement them in our minds to live with us forever.
I have said that I worked hard to remember my dad's voice ( he died in 2002) . I can clearly see me opening the door each month when they visited, him walking in, giving me a big hug and saying "Hello love"
