What should we expect in death, and
could it be what we expect in life?
I believe the path to death is not a
destination, but a direction!
I am writing this blog, after asking
for input from the fellowshippers across the country. I also want to
be respectful in this writing, and remember the people who are facing
death right now. Whether it is you or a loved one who is approaching
death, I feel sad in telling you, I am sorry for your pain. I am
sorry for the moments that I call “would have, should have or could
have”. Sometimes we are given time to reflect on these “haves”and
sometimes it is over in a breath. The sorrow of death is felt longer
for the family and friends . Survivors have more time to reflect on
the “haves” because they deal with death before and after the
passing. I notice during mourning, people handle their feelings
differently. I remind myself, people will mourn loss in different
ways and lengths of time, we should respect everyone during their
sorrow.
We place life on a calendar, by marking
our birthday and anniversaries and someday someone will remember us
and the date on a calendar that we passed away from this life. I
can say a calendar is a creation of man. Life is a creation of God.
For my friends who believe in the “natural physical event that
generated life”: I say, if that is how God created life, then that
would be up to Him. I know my perspective is Christian; that is
what I am, even though I serve people of all belief backgrounds. I
find no value in disputing your faith or fighting. It is hard to
serve people when you are attacking their beliefs. Death is not a
time to convict or conflict. Death is a time to reflect on the
contribution made in relationships by a person during their time on
this earth. For the children of Abraham, we should let the Lord be
the Judge, we should trust in the Lord's decision.
Death effects both us and those we
love.
Just as any middle aged person, I have
lost loved ones throughout my life. I was 18 when we came home to
find a note on our door. My 23 year old brother was killed in a car
accident. My grandparents passed soon afterward and 10 years ago, I
lost another brother. A few months after my brother, my mother was
writing a letter to a friend explaining her loss, and laid down her
pen, it was never picked up again. Before she passed, we were
talking over the phone; she asked me to speak at her funeral, I
protested before I said yes. Little did I know what an honor it would
be to proclaim the good news of living beyond the grave to our family
and friends.
I was wounded when my father-in-law
passed. I was deeply saddened to hold my wife's hand when she walked
through that dark hallway known as the departure. On a Friday, I was
at a rodeo doing a cowboy church in the rain. The mud was thick but
we knelt in prayer. A hand joined us in the prayer and the cowboy
later that night told me he “got right with God”. He said he had
been away too long and it was time to come home to God. He was
charged up like the energizer rabbit, had joy and fulfillment, the
spirit was on him! A few days later the cowboy died on his brothers
couch. I realized the joy in death is in our faith. The Joy is
another name for the Word. The Word is another name for Jesus. My
wife knew of her father's faith and my friend in the rodeo knew his
brother “got right with God”
The direction we take in life is a
journey through birth, life, death and beyond. Many religions have
their opinion on the end of life, some say once you pass away ”that's
it”. Many people believe we come back through reincarnation. Some
expect to have an eternal life in paradise. No matter what is your
belief, it is something that will happen to all of us, and it is a
part of life. I thought about the Mayfly living only 24 hours, to be
born, mate, lay eggs and die in a day. You could not compare that
to creatures that live a long repetitive life such as the immortal
jellyfish. Even the jelly fish has predators and death through
events beyond it's ability eternally regenerate. Our direction
starts before birth. Our ancestors gave their love and strife to the
next generation and so we really begin at the creation. Jesus said
in the Gospel of John chapter 17. He was one with God, and has
always been with God. He also said, He was in God, as we are in Him.
In John 14, He said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many
rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going
there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also
may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
I hope two things are accomplished with
this writing, the understanding of how important relationships are in
life and death, and finding peace in understanding that death is a
direction we travel along and not our final destination.
Relationships are in every aspect of life. Family, friendship,
business and clubs. In every relationship,we move in a direction,
building, taking apart or moving onward. When a loving relationship
ends like in a divorce or breakup, there will be a mourning process.
I will write on relationships in the near future. The direction we
travel through life, death and beyond is a choice. I have never
heard of a healthy person wanting a wasted life. Some just let life
take it's own course, and I respect the decision that each person
makes in their life. I sincerely hope for those who have lost
someone close, or those who see death approaching, that you follow
your path of love. The love God has for us gave us grace, and grace
gave us life beyond the grave. Our relationship with God, will take
our lives on a direction past the grave.
Everyone, at one time or another, will
be called to depart. I hope you do as the rodeo cowboy did, and “Get
right with God”