Khalil Gibran: “When someone tells you that the soul perishes with the body and that what is dead never returns, answer that the blossom withers, but the seeds remain and lie before us, unseen, like the eternity of life.”
Death comes, whether or not I am prepared for it. We spend a great deal of time on work, pleasure, rest, eating, drinking. We earn money and spend it. We do very little, however, to ready ourselves for death. Is it even possible to be prepared to begin such a journey? Can we strengthen our soul for this task?
“Yes”, we can.
Everyone lives their life in their own way, so there is no “right” or “wrong” approach. Instead, it is a matter of one question: am I at peace with the life I am living? When considered alongside the realization of the limits of one’s life, this question becomes especially meaningful. What is important is not the length of a life, but the direction and content that we give it. Nothing is permanent and every moment is new, each holding the possibility for us to change our lives. Many people only begin to realize the meaning of life while on the path of awareness that their approaching death sets them upon. In the words of Victor Franklin, “Death gives life its meaning.”
Change is an unavoidable part of life. The willingness to accept the presence of death can actually bring new vitality to one’s existence and relationships. We can learn to go beyond our fear and fully engage with our lives. The significance of each moment can guide us.
“You are important, infinitely important, because you are you.” I would be delighted if we met each other on this side of life. It would be my pleasure to be there for you during this singular and extraordinary experience.
