Death and Dying

A subject that has been visiting itself upon me more regularly, not to my liking, is death and dying. I understand as you get older, which some people like to point out, that the topic of mortality becomes more in the forefront but just the same it is a difficult issue for many to deal with and I am no different.

It becomes more clear to me as the years go by that this simply can not be all there is. Your life here is only temporary. That being said your life here has permanent impact on your next stage of life. I am a Christian therefore my belief is my next stage is with Jesus Christ. Am I a “saved” Christian? I was saved when I was baptized and to my way of thinking my life should be centered around the stark realization that I should live in a way to show thanks for that fact.

I don’t want to turn this into a religious discussion but as far as I’m concerned death should at its very core be a religious discussion. I am not naïve enough to know that there is a large faction of people out there in this world that are atheists and I am still confounded how you can live your life believing that it is a one and done kind of existence. What a truly depressing way to live.

I choose to not believe I am quite so important on this Earth and that my purpose in this life is to try and convince others that your real future as a Christian is not getting into the best retirement home or having the fattest bank account but to prepare yourself for the eventual meeting with your maker. If I am doing that, I am doing something far greater than earning 7.5% in my IRA (I know a pipedream).

Do I stand on the corner reading my bible to strangers? No but I find nothing wrong with that. The way you teach others is by example. It is not necessary to preach the word to everyone overtly but simply by living your life out as the best person you can be speaks volumes and might just turn a heart or two.

So lately I have seen a number of souls move on and none of them were preachers but they all lived their lives in a way, that although not perfect, displayed their belief that there was more on the other side. I salute them and am better for knowing each of them at some point in my life. When each of you eventually leave this life behind, I hope there is someone out there that can say the same about you because in my mind, if that’s the case, you lived a good life and yes even a Christian life.