Thinking about My Death

Michie

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The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death. I am old and move slowly, and the slower runner has overtaken me.
Socrates, in Plato’s Apology

Yesterday I was walking back to the house alone after feeding the pigs. Stars coming out, it was a glorious and brisk Shenandoah evening. On my mind and heart was a loved one who is nearing the end of life. I was deeply struck: how bracing it must be to face death as imminent. How seldom I myself really reckon with the possibility, nay the coming reality of my own death.

I suppose this is just one of those things in human life. Life is so full, so demanding; only with real effort can I get myself to reckon with its simply screeching to a halt. Death is very difficult to imagine.

I really, really love being alive. It is with gratitude and a recognition that it could have been otherwise that I say this. There is so much I still want to do, and so many ways I need to grow. And especially, there is so much I still want to do and to be for my family, my friends, and others! It can make me short of breath.

Continued below.
Thinking about My Death - LifeCraft
 
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Neostarwcc

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I've been thinking about death myself. My wife's grandfather died from covid almost a week ago. They're burying him today.

But with his death and the death of my own grandparents within one year of each other... it's hard and you tend to think about death a lot.


The worst part is is when you know they believed in Jesus to a point and even had religious funerals. But you don't know their eternal destinies.


I loved my dads parents but never really got to discuss religion with them. They weren't devout Catholics like my mom's dad was. My mom's dad would warn all of his kids and grandkids about hell and about how if they don't accept Jesus they're going There. My dads dad just talked about manufacturing and the 1950s mostly. I know he was a Protestant but anybody can be a Protestant on paper. My dad is and he doesn't believe Jesus existed at all.


But yeah, I know where youre coming from. A lot of times I wonder who would even go to my funeral. I have a plot in a Catholic cemetery (my mom bought It for me. I'm not Catholic.) All ready to go. I'm going to be buried with my mom's family and my sister and parents. Need to someday inquire about sharing the plot with my wife. I wasn't dating or married to her when my mother bought the plot.
 
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pdudgeon

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I've been thinking about death myself. My wife's grandfather died from covid almost a week ago. They're burying him today.

But with his death and the death of my own grandparents within one year of each other... it's hard and you tend to think about death a lot.


The worst part is is when you know they believed in Jesus to a point and even had religious funerals. But you don't know their eternal destinies.


I loved my dads parents but never really got to discuss religion with them. They weren't devout Catholics like my mom's dad was. My mom's dad would warn all of his kids and grandkids about hell and about how if they don't accept Jesus they're going There. My dads dad just talked about manufacturing and the 1950s mostly. I know he was a Protestant but anybody can be a Protestant on paper. My dad is and he doesn't believe Jesus existed at all.


But yeah, I know where youre coming from. A lot of times I wonder who would even go to my funeral. I have a plot in a Catholic cemetery (my mom bought It for me. I'm not Catholic.) All ready to go. I'm going to be buried with my mom's family and my sister and parents. Need to someday inquire about sharing the plot with my wife. I wasn't dating or married to her when my mother bought the plot.
It's good that you know where you will be, and that you will have loved ones around you even in death. You are blessed, in that way, and I hope that it gives you comfort.:hug:
 
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Neostarwcc

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It's good that you know where you will be, and that you will have loved ones around you even in death. You are blessed, in that way, and I hope that it gives you comfort.:hug:

Yup. I'm not changing plots unless my wife cannot be buried with me. My mom and dad's parents were buried together so I want the same.
 
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Gnarwhal

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I’m going to a visitation today and a funeral tomorrow. It’s difficult. :(

My parents did too, a longtime neighbor of ours passed away from cancer and he was only 60. I grew up with his daughters...hard to digest this sometimes.
 
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timothyu

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Would it be easier if we were not first trained from birth to cherish the values and ethics of this world and religion did not ignore the Kingdom so much as an alternative? We seem to build our own kingdoms on our own terms then worry we may have bet on the wrong horse. Many fear what is coming instead of embracing it with open arms, glad to be out of this backwards adversarial world.
 
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Michie

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My parents did too, a longtime neighbor of ours passed away from cancer and he was only 60. I grew up with his daughters...hard to digest this sometimes.
I’m sorry to hear that Fenwick. It can really drain you. We have the funeral tomorrow. Then we still have illness in the families to deal with. I think I’m skipping the Christmas decorating this year.
 
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Gnarwhal

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I’m sorry to hear that Fenwick. It can really drain you. We have the funeral tomorrow. Then we still have illness in the families to deal with. I think I’m skipping the Christmas decorating this year.

Aw really? I'm sorry Michie. You're right though, it's hard. It takes a lot of out of us to cope and process and confront these things, especially with people close to us.
 
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eastcoast_bsc

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I have been close to a lot of death recently and in the past. I just lost my uncle the day prior to thanksgiving and my sister a month ago. I lost my younger sister last year then my father a few years back. Prior to that my mother and two brothers. I tend to compartmentalize and move on. It can be wearying.

I have seen up close those in their last moments. What fascinates me is that one moment in time when we pass from life into death. No one knows what that feels like. Only those who pass through.



"I am standing on the threshold of another trembling world. May God have mercy on my soul."
 
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Stabat Mater dolorosa

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I have been close to a lot of death recently and in the past. I just lost my uncle the day prior to thanksgiving and my sister a month ago. I lost my younger sister last year then my father a few years back. Prior to that my mother and two brothers. I tend to compartmentalize and move on. It can be wearying.

I'm so sorry. That sure sounds like some rough experiences to endure. For some reason it seems as if tragedy kind of piles up in some families while others stand clear of it alltogether. I should keep the Lords blessings towards me and my family in my mind day and night. May your misfortune be over from now on and out dear brother. May God bless you as he has blessed me.

I have seen up close those in their last moments. What fascinates me is that one moment in time when we pass from life into death. No one knows what that feels like. Only those who pass through.

For the soul going to meet his/ her savior its definitely a joyful moment. I just dread I'll be one of them people who said "-Lord etc...", but whom had no part in Christ. May Christ by the power of his cross prevent us from being all "talk" and help us "walk the walk".
 
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