Cathy and I have been talking about death a lot recently. Actually, we've been talking about wanting to live together for several more decades, say... three score?
This is a conversation Cathy & I recorded after church on 09/10/2006. We had just lost one young man to a traffic accident and one old man to cancer. Cathy herself may be dying from liver disease (tests are still out).
Perhaps if we, as Christians, better understood the reality of death and heaven we would have a different response to death.
What is the proper response to death? to fear? to illness? How about to sudden death? We explore these thoughts in this podcast.
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Perhaps heaven is like Hawaii... if it is truly such a great place, why do we mourn those who precede us there? It seems that the answer is, "we shouldn't", but I still have to work out why we feel sorrow, and the role of pain in our lives.
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I agree with the idea of rejoicing and not mourning, especially as Christians. But I cried when Jenn left for Hawaii. And I think I will always cry and be saddened at funerals. But that is out of my own selfishness. I am sad that I won't get to see that person again soon (in my idea of time). Or, for instance, when my dad's mom passed away, I was sad not only that she was gone, but for a couple other reasons too. One, I regretted not having had a closer relationship with her. Second, I was sad for Kaitlyn, who would never know her great-grandmother. I think, as humans, Christian or not, we will always be saddened by the loss of a person. I think it's just part of being human and having human emotion. But, the good news is that we ARE ABLE to rejoice in knowing that we will see that Christian brother or sister again and that they are in a much better place. In the death of a non-Christian, rejoicing isn't even an option.
ReplyDeleteI respect and am awed by your (both of you) ability and willingness to speak so openly about death, especially when it may be something you'll have to deal with relatively soon. And, just for the record, if you do end up passing on from this disease, Cathy, know that I WILL rejoice for you but I will surely cry a whole lot of tears. (I'm tearing up now just thinking about it.) But, when you look down on me from Heaven, remember that I told you this. I'm glad for your going Home but am saddened by OUR loss and your hubby's loss.
Well, thanks for the podcast and being such cool peeps. ;) Love ya both and I hope we can get together soon...this side of Heaven!