Over the past few weeks Death and I seem to have crossed paths or passed in the corridor a fair bit. I've only had one personal visit... My Ouma, but it seems as if Death is all anyone is talking about lately. It's been really interesting to see how everyone handles it in their own way.
For some, there's been a definite sense of despair, hopelessness. I've seen people face death with a sense of fear and resentment. They fear the unknown which it represents. Fear the fact that it's beyond all sense of control. Their resentment is for the time they believe is stolen. I've seen others face death head on. Seen them calm and content, ready to view the unknown as yet another challenge on the journey. Seeing death, not as the end, but as a new beginning. I've seen them rejoice for the time they've been afforded on earth, rejoice for the chances they've had.
It's really made me think. Someone told me the other day that you're born and then you die. That's all. I thought it was a sad statement to make. I pointed out to them that there is a whole lot of really amazing stuff that happens between those two events... and after a bit of thought, they were able to agree with me.
The tragedy is not in dying. The tragedy is in never having lived at all.
I don't mean literally never having lived... I mean that the tragedy would be to isolate yourself from the experiences out there in the world out of some misguided idea that we're somehow going to stop ourselves from getting hurt. Being isolated doesn't protect you at all. I know this because I've tried it. You still end up getting hurt, but you don't get to have all the fun inbetween.
I was in a very dark place lately, what with one thing and another, and as I started to find my way out, I realised another very important lesson...
Without the darkness, it is impossible to truly appreciate the light
It's a hard concept to master. Most of us would feel that our lives are better without the darkness. I used to think so too... but now I know differently. If our lives run too smoothly, we won't appreciate what we have. And believe me... it's sooo very much better when you can really appreciate it.
Until next time...
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