I’ve been thinking of this half of the day and I’m not quite sure how to write about it. So, I ask for your patience on this and I’m asking for spiritual guidance so as to write this with consideration and compassion honoring those of you out there touched by similar situations.
My daughter called and asked if I would baby sit her almost 23-month old tomorrow as she was going to a funeral for a 2-month old twin who had just died that has the same name as her child. It struck me and stayed with me a good part of the day thinking how quickly we come into this life and then pass back out again. Life is a gift and it’s especially realized as precious when a baby leaves.
It also made me wonder what it is about our mortality that shifts us from the daily routines to a tender, deep part of the soul and gives us a glimpse of a world we had forgotten. There are difficult times we all face as we live our lives and what I’m reminded of is that no matter how difficult the times LOVE is our strength and our comforter transcending all time and dimension.
Dr. Wayne Dyer talks more about LOVE being our strength in his book Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling. He says:
“On the fateful day of September 11, 2001, what stuck in my mind were the cell-phone calls made by the people on the ill-fated planes. Every single call was made to a loved one, to connect back in love or to express final words of love. No one called the office or asked their stockbroker for a final appraisal of their financial status, as relationships that weren’t loved based didn’t enter the thoughts of those who knew they were leaving this physical world. Their top priority was to be certain to close out their lives in love: “Tell the kids that I love them.” “I love you!” “Give Mom and Dad my love.””
How many times do we go about our daily routines not giving much thought on how quickly things could change? Would we be more conscious? We can’t dwell on death, as it would paralyze our every move and every thought and drive us crazy. But how can we honor our lives every moment, every day, as precious? Alex Blackwell owner of the blog The Bridgemaker writes a post called In the Blink of an Eye where he talks about the seriousness of his wife undergoing surgery and their love. He reflected on their lives together and the sweetness in the little things they do together and share. It’s the LOVE that is there in our daily routines and it’s the LOVE that carries us through the unknown.
Dr. Dyer, also in Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling talks about the healing power of love in desperate times in recalling an article he read called “The Rescuing Hug” detailing the first week in the life of a set of twins where one was not expected to live. He tells it like this:
“The babies were in two separate incubators, but nurse Gayle Kasparian fought hospital rules to place them together in one. When Gayle did so, the healthier of the twins threw an arm over her sister in an endearing embrace – at which point, the weaker baby’s heart rate stabilized and her temperature rose to normal.”
“Even as tiny infants, our spiritually based instincts tell us to love one another. It’s such a simple message, yet it’s so powerful.”
In life’s fragility we are touched by a LOVE that goes beyond our thoughts and our physical senses and it is at these times, when our souls show us the way, that we finally appreciate how precious life is!
Beautifully written, Pat. You bought tears to my eyes. Love really is all that there is. Love is our true purpose in life. To me, the gift of the tragedy of 911 was the compassion that was felt around the world and expressed by so many people that would not have normally felt or expressed the wonderful emotion of compassion. Compassion is love at work.
Patricia – thank you so much for commenting. I agree. Love really is all that there is and to sense how precious our lives are is just as important. Living and feeling it everyday, in every moment, is something we can strive for and get better at as we go along.
Yes, Pat, very wonderful work and well put together. Talk about setting priorities, wow; could there even be one more powerful than connecting with those we love?
My Dad passed this year and due to my busyness I missed the opportunity for a final hug and a final goodbye while he was still with us. I assumed I’d always have time. We don’t. I’m grateful that you’ve for put things in sacred perspective for me so I can see what really matters once again.
Tom – thank you for your comment and I am very sorry for the loss of your Dad. It is at times like these when the realness and seriousness of life comes rushing in and yet, with it, there’s a love and tenderness only a higher power can provide. I’m sure you felt that.
There’s a book out by Mitch Albom called For One More Day (also a movie was made for TV) where a man messes up his life with alcohol and his mother dies. He didn’t get a chance to say goodbye either. But she visits him in spirit and they get to spend one more day together.
I’m touched and honored that this post helped you in those sacred moments – thank you.
Blessings
Beautiful post, Pat.
I try to remember every day that life is a gift and should not be squandered with fear, criticism and loveless actions.
I was blessed with the opportunity to learn this lesson relatively young when my stepbrother was killed in a car accident. he died at the tender age of 16, and a huge part of my dealing with his loss was me also dealing with the finality of his journey. All the things he would never get to do, all the things we take for granted are possible tomorrow.
I was only 20 at the time, but I vowed then that I would face life head first, that I would love whole heartedly, that I would never turn away from someone in need. Some days I’m more successful than others, but that’s okay because life is imperfection. Love is perfect and imperfect all at the same time. Love is all there is.
Thanks for reminding me again.
Kelly
Kelly – Thank you for sharing this tender and heartfelt comment. It seems at times like these there’s a deep place that’s touched, one that would have never been touched otherwise; and even though it hurts, we come through it feeling more depth in love and gratitude for life itself. I’m sorry for the loss of your stepbrother. And I’m thankful that this post was able to remind you of him and the love you two share. Love truly is forever in this life and the one beyond.