Eternity

What do you think happens after death? Is there life beyond the grave? Is death just a doorway? Heaven? Hell? Are they real? You can imagine the talk in our house this week discussing death, funerals, memorials and the like over dinner. My four are used to death talk  having a palliative nurse as a mother, however It seemed to take a deeper level this week.

Sunshine claimed her brain hurt trying to imagine eternity! Forever and ever and ever..... Infinity and beyond as Buzz Lightyear would say. The whole concept of living forever one that our finite brains aren't really able to grasp because they are, exactly that, finite. It hurts mine too. Sunshine asked, "so you don't really die then, just your body, but your spirit lives forever?" I could almost see the cogs whirring inside her head trying to figure it out. Abstract thinking for an 11yr old can even be a struggle for us as adults.

Though many have written their after death stories, it still remains mostly a mystery, there is no definite science about eternity and what lies beyond the grave. Rather leave it to the realms of faith, religion and phenomenological experiences. Some believe in a reincarnation theory, personally I cannot (or maybe don't want to) believe that we come back as a cockroach or insect if we have been bad in this life. This certainly fills me with no hope!

As in life, in death we need hope. What fills us with hope? Eternity is a wonderful concept if we can imagine a life better than this one. Filled with no suffering, no sadness, no disease, relationships without pain, a life filled with love like its meant to be, true happiness and contentment. Eternity can fill us with hope if it is imagined as a gift rather than a curse.

I certainly have no concrete concept of heaven or of eternity but in faith accept that there must be life beyond the grave. That passing from this life into the next generates anticipation and hope especially when watching loved ones approaching death. And the hope of seeing them again in the after life.

However what if heaven is real, how do we have any confidence we will be there? Leave it to chance? Is it up to how good we have lived here? But is good, good enough? What if hell is real? Maybe rather than a lake of fire it is symbolic of a life without any goodness, beauty, love or relationship? Fondly remember my son, DW saying he would rather not risk it. Rather be sure either way. Live a life that will lead to heaven, just in case it's real! It was 10yr old logic at the time and gotta agree with him.

Cherishing again the circle of life. Cherishing eternity and shared moments with my beautiful four to talk about life, death and beyond the grave. Let's chat about dying.