Death is such a powerful catalyst for all of us. Whether we expect it or it sneaks up on us. Whether it be watching a loved one slowly dying, or the sudden loss of a friend, or the tragic and senseless death of someone we didn’t know, but that causes us to be horrified and quickened to the core of our being. It touches us deeply.
This life is so fleeting, so quick to fly by, it makes my head spin. Like all of you, I too have experienced the grief and loss that death brings, each with its own lessons of fragility. One in particular, happened when I was in my 20’s and working as a Lifeguard and Waterfront Director, at a summer camp. It happened one day, on my day off, during a transition period from one camp group to the next, that a small group of teens who were staying over, decided to sneak off without their Counselor, to the creek, even though they had been told it was off limits. It had rained heavily, the creek was high and the under currents strong, from many under water caves. Sadly, one boy was not strong enough to survive the currents. He was 14. It was such a deep shock for everyone. It was a week before the divers found his body. Every day I would go to a secluded spot by that creek and sit there, listening to the water, in awe of its raw power, of its beauty, and contemplated the fragility of Life. That experience and others, gave me a deeper reverence for the sacredness of Life, something that I have always held in my heart.
Perhaps the whole point of Death, is so that we learn to value Life. So that we learn to appreciate each breath that we take, each sunrise, each smile, each Extra-Ordinary Person we meet, each season on this beautiful Earth.
I don’t have all the answers. I am here just like everyone else, trying to find meaning and beauty in this experience. I can say, that I have learned a lot, about myself, about the sacredness of existence, about how to love and honor all parts of myself, even though I still have so much to learn. I have discovered that there is much to celebrate and be thankful for. I have discovered that each Soul I meet, is a reflection of both God and Myself. I have discovered that every experience is an opportunity for my Soul to grow. I have discovered that Death teaches us to face Illusions, to look at what we value, to ask ourselves deep and soulful questions:
-Am I living my Life to it’s fullest depth and breadth? -Am I Honoring the Sacredness of Life itself? – Do I have the courage to be my Authentic Self, to move through the processes of grieving, healing, and forgiveness, not just of others, but also of myself? – How do I stand here and be in my own Worth? – How do I do better? – Do I have enough Faith, that if I choose Love often enough, my Outer World will come to reflect that?
*How can We, as Humanity, come together and Co-Create, a World of Peace, Honoring the Sacredness of All, Celebrating the Diversity of God, as reflected in each other, and holding a deeper Reverence for All that exists.
