I was just informed by my sister recently that my Aunt Nalda has died. She was suffering for quite a while so in one sense it’s the end of the suffering, on the other hand though, more importantly, someone in the family has died. My mum’s sister has died.
Life is for the living. Life is for living. I’ve heard that phrase on a number of occasions and its meaning has come across to me sometimes. But in the light of this news, its importance is even weightier. It is intriguing, how despite believing that, much of what we do hastens death whether literal or spiritual. It is fascinating to see people so afraid to die, live in a manner that brings it quicker to reality.
What do I mean? Well there are the obvious ones – damaging our physical health through lack of exercise, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, smoking, failing to get enough rest and otherwise abusing the body through over-activity or neglect. Then there are the not so obvious ones – negative attitude, evil character and behaviour, mental and emotional addictions that bring us down rather than raise us up. It’s just bizarre – we say we’re afraid to die. We don’t want to die. We don’t want to think about dying, yet our very lifestyles contain elements that bring it on and not only that bring others down with us.
So when I read about life is for living it really means discovering what it means to truly live.
On hearing the news I was more upset for those that were left behind after the loss. I was distraught for my mother who stuck around up until virtually the final weeks of her life. What would she be going through? How would she be taking it? In as much as I know my mum as a tough character with a strength and resolve that has taken her through much, this is yet another blow. What of the others also who will be impacted by the departure? How will their living be affected by this death?
Then it got me to thinking again about something that I do come across every now and again – am I ready for death? Not my own – the death of the loved ones around me. Am I ready for that? The relative in question had a relationship with God. To the best of my knowledge her belief in Jesus Christ went beyond the nominal and so there is every hope that in leaving her mortal shell, she but sleeps in preparation for the first trump to sound. I can’t be sure. I won’t hazard a guess. I’m not God, but I’ll go on the positive of what I know. In which case, as well as the mourning, there is the rejoicing and eager anticipation of what awaits her and all those whose hope remains in the Creator, Saviour and Redeemer.
Does that stop the tears? No. Will that fully ease the pain? Not necessarily, but it is a reality beyond the current circumstance that brings hope in a dark time.
So that’s the response if the relative was ‘saved’. What if she wasn’t? Well the main response is not about those that died, but about the living. What tends to happen when loved ones die is much remembering of the time when they were alive. What these deaths are always supposed to remind is of the two most inevitable things in life. One – death. Two – Life. The first is the fact that we will die. Life in a very real way is a terminal disease. We can look at it that way. The second inevitable factor, though, is life. Not just the physical exercise of breathing, or the routine of activities that resemble life, but real life.
You know what I’m talking about – that intangible feature that animates the activity. That invisible force that keeps us going and makes us more than just automatons carrying out orders as inputted into us as if we were a computer. That dynamic element which makes us spark and feel full of something greater than any functional rational explanation can provide.
What death reminds me of is the value of real life. What it reminds me of is the mission for which Jesus Christ, came lived and died for, as I indicated previously. What it reminds me of as well is the ultimate victory that real life has over death. The foretaste of that real life that we experience now is meant to indicate the greater that is to come because of the Life that lives in us.
That also changes my attitude to people. I’m not being funny, but in the kind of work I do and the kind of life I live I come across people who are not interested in that real life. That’s fine. That’s their prerogative. Where the issue comes in is where they want to intrude their lifelessness into my full-life-ness. If you need life and are up for getting it, I’m happy to share. If you want to block that with your mean attitude or your apathy, or your dogmatic expression of lifelessness, then don’t try and block me and waste me time with all of that. I don’t have the time for that. Life is far too precious to waste. Of course my sense of compassion desires to share the life with you, but I’m not going to beat myself up if the door is shut. I’d much rather invest my time in life-giving exercises. If that’s not on the agenda, I’m happy to move on and leave you in the hope of an experience that will transform you.
Life is worth living, for the living. At a time of mourning, remembering that and getting to experience that with those on this side of the grave is the light that leads us to that brighter day of life. Dear Lord, I hope You will prepare me for that as and when news reaches of others who You have chosen to fall asleep. Let Your love and life be a strong consolation to those who mourn knowing that life conquers death in the risen Lord.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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