The marketers of freedom and the prophetiers of doom, the last 6,000 years they say the end is coming soon

But until then I keep smiling. Let my family and friends show the best of what this world can be.

This post is a reflection on Module 9 of the Community of Hope handbook: Coping with Loss

Everywhere we look nowadays, it seems that death is always there. In the news, with our friends and family; you just can’t seem to be able to get away from it. Newspapers always have pages filled with people who have died. It is also disheartening to see that many of the people listed are middle aged and younger. And to make things worse, most of what is reported focuses on the Good Friday aspect of death, with little mention of the Easter aspect. Yes, the ones we know and love have or will die, and it is sad knowing that we will no longer see their body or hear their voices like we used to. So yes, there is some Good Friday there. But Easter wins. Like Jesus, we are given new life. We meaning all of us: you, me, the asshole who cut you off while driving, and the list goes on. I feel you get the point.

Now let me step away from the pulpit. This subject can bring on some heavy conversation, as it did some in discussion during our Community of Hope session. Death is not an easy subject deal with, much less talk about openly with a group. But it does need to be dealt with from time to time, because death does happen. Odds are that if it hasn’t already happened, someone close to you will die in your lifetime. It’s happened to me. And I know it sounds a bit morbid of me to put it so frankly. But for me that is a good first step to take in my thoughts and beliefs on death: tell myself the honest truth that death is real and is going to happen to every living thing anywhere. One of the first points brought up in this lesson is that in order to effectively provide pastoral care to someone experiencing the death of a loved one, we must know our own stance on death. We must know what we think, and cipher through feeling like fear of death, and be able to, if we are asked, to give a personal viewpoint. And even when we aren’t asked, it helps to know where you yourself are coming from. My feelings and beliefs on death are fairly simple as far as feelings and beliefs go. I am very aware of my mortality. I will probably die sooner than I want, but live longer than I deserve. As it pertains to the afterlife, I know where I probably deserve to go, but also know where I will go because I believe in a God with love and patience and compassion and forgiveness so deep that it is impossible for me to understand while on earth. My beliefs are better rooted because of my experiences with death. My uncle died the Monday before Thanksgiving when I was a sophomore in high school, and one of my best friends that I had known since kindergarten died a year and a half ago. I still miss them both very much, and it still hurts a little because of that void. But the feeling is not constant anymore, and while I do still miss them both dearly, I know they are in a state of eternal Easter Sunday in heaven. And while I have no plans of dyeing anytime soon, I can’t wait to join the party.


"Life goes on until it ends, but don't stop living until then."

"I don't think about whether people will remember me or not."

"I've been an o.k. person. I've learned a lot. I've taught people a thing or two."

This post is a reflection on Module 5 of the Community of Hope handbook: Prayer Christian Meditation and Silence.

I don't know if it was planned or not, but this lesson of our class came at a time that coincided with what Jesus was talking about each Sunday in the Gospel. I believe the Gospels for the weeks before, during, and after all involved prayer and how we are to go about doing it. I enjoyed listening and learning about what is considered right and not so right about our personal prayer lives and it made me think about mine, and how I may deepen it and therefore deepen my relationship with God. I also was again reminded that prayer is not simply kneeling down and with a preset list of things you would like to ask God for. God is not simply a Santa Claus that you can talk to year round. Yes, God would love to hear about your needs and problems, what you’re struggling with, and any and all sins you would like to repent for(and even those you don’t want to repent for). I am not saying God cannot be a Santa Claus type role sometimes, but it would be a shame, dare I say almost a sin, to limit Him/Her in such a way.

When I think about what prayer is, I usually don’t think about it so much as prayer in conventional terms like those mentioned above. My definition of prayer is a continuous conversation with God. Even though it is short, I think it means a lot. A least to me it does. The element of it being a conversation helps me remember the reality of it; the fact that even though God is more powerful than I or anyone else could ever imagine, it does not mean we are not worthy of conversation. Thinking of similarities in my mind, I often know that world leaders, movie stars, or CEOs of large companies rarely seem to take time to just have a conversation with someone. For me it brings the reality and truth that God is metaphorically always sitting at a Starbucks with coffee for both of us ready to talk about whatever I want.I am also reminded of this when I go to church on Sunday, and the first the priest usually says is something to the effect of “The Holy Eucharist continues on page 355 of the Book of Common Prayer.” This reminds us that it is not a one time a week thing, that Jesus does not come and go as we please. He is always there, never ceasing to live in us, die for us, and rise again for us. And that, to me, is very powerful and gratifying. And if He can do that for me, surely I can make an effort to try and talk to Him often.

"That's what's important."