Over
the years, as both layperson and priest, I’ve saved thoughts/prayers that are
“notes” concerning my eventual trip into heaven. I’ve also written three books
dealing with deaths dimensions and contradictions. (Be not Afraid..... Death is
a Beginning..... A Letter Never Sent.)
But I’m finding that as “it” comes closer, due to my age and my condition, these notes are brief but wonderful reminders that death is really a beginning, not just an ending, and that Jesus will be there to walk me home into eternity when my time comes. The details remain a mystery – the certainty is without question!
An Indian poet, Tagore, wrote something that really says it all. “Death is not extinguishing the light. It’s putting out the lamp because dawn has come.” And as one of my favorite prayers ends “There is a God. There is more out there that meets the eye. There is a tomorrow, and I’m certain that I’ll be in it!”
Death
is something we really don’t want to chat about. But the great message of
Christianity is that Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again! He went from
life to life, and so will we. When we were born we cried but everyone else
rejoiced. When we die everyone else will cry but we will rejoice!! Like
caterpillars we will go from life to life and emerge as “butterflies” so you can
see that death is an incredible beginning, not just an ending.
Alan Houghton is a retired Episcopal priest living on Pawleys Island SC. Other
prayers by Alan Houghton are in his collection, A Book of Uncommon Prayers
is
available from FAW Resources.