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."