7 Things I’ve Learned about Death & Dying
Thoughts on ‘trans-portation’ (the end of life here and the beginning of life in heaven…there is no ‘death’ for Jesus’ brothers and sisters).
1. People want to be ‘walked home’ – just like on a dark night…
-it doesn’t mean you’re scared, you just feel better having someone(s) special with you.
-having someone walking with you doesn’t change the distance or the destination…just makes the travel more comfortable.
-‘not just anybody’ can walk you home. The person/people have ‘earned the right’ through loving, intimate friendship and common faith in the Father, experienced in advance.
– friends who ‘walk their friends home’ practice the ministry of ‘presence’. Their physical presence is completely adequate. They know their friend well enough to know if, when and what to talk about.
-being ‘walked home’ is one of the greatest blessings God gives us. And thus, being able to ‘walk someone home’… to be used of God in that way is also a blessing.
2. “Crossing over” from earth to heaven is a personal experience. It is done alone. While friends and family play bit parts, the story is being written and experienced by one person only. How one looks at it, who and what they think about, how they occupy their minds is completely up to them. They might grind in anger, or re-live all they enjoyed or regret. They may strain to survive, sing praises, worship and pray, recall the words of God from Scripture, immerse themselves in watching television, or spend every waking moment thinking of instructions about what they want done at their funeral or with their things. Or totally focus on the hearts and souls of those around them. But only they will decide what they’ll apply their minds to and what their attitude will be as they approach ‘trans-portation’.
3. Since Jesus-followers don’t really die, it’s better to say “see you later on” than to say “good-bye”. It’s more accurate and communicates more faith and hope.
4. Since the only sure cure for anxiety is a grateful heart, thanking God for your life is good. Especially good is revisiting the ‘bad’ periods and recognizing the good that was there but forgotten. Re-framing your parents….recalling things they did well instead of what they messed up on. Realizing the gaps God filled in. Things He protected you from when you were off in yourself and your sin. So when you thank God for your life, you’re thanking Him for the blessings of life and not the sin He endured and died to pay for.
5. A ‘bucket list’ brings focus to the temporal and breeds selfishness. A ‘self-sacrificing martyrdom’ brings focus to the eternal but breeds self-righteousness. A balanced diet, void of toxic people and situations is best. A balance of Kingdom focus and savoring His blessings.
6. Don’t stop ‘growing your soul’. Read, watch, listen, question, and interact. Your soul (your personality…who you are) will be trans-ported at the end of life on earth. Keep cultivating it…it’s not going to be lost and it’s not going away. It’s just changing addresses.
7. It’s not about you. Though the Christ-follower doesn’t really know where he’s going (there’s a bunch of different ideas about where heaven is and what it’s like), he knows who he’s going with. Jesus is right there with him through it all. So the focus is on Him and on reflecting Him to everyone in the vicinity.
Question: Is there someone in your life who’d like you to ‘walk them home’? Will you take the time and grab the opportunity? Tell us here.
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Responses (2)
I have never thought of the “bucket list” as selfish but I do see your point. I started one earlier this year and tried to get to 100 things. The challenge was that I wanted to divide the list between things I would like to do (attend a game in all SEC football stadiums, for example) and things that could be modeled after miracles/activities/stories of Jesus (participate in Hosea Feed The Hungry and fund a water well in Africa, for example). The second part of the list became harder for me to come up with than I thought.
Not to discount your opinion of the traditional bucket list, but if there are other ideas that people have that could create entries modeled after Jesus, I would love to get more suggestions!!
Maybe even this modified bucket list is somewhat selfish as well? Would appreciate wisdom and feedback!
Thanks Regi!
Mark, Jesus lived every day like it was his last. The most important person was the one in front of him. I think that’s our challenge, not what we do or where we go but who we meet…person by person and encounter after encounter. That’s his calling for us. When he brings those people into our lives and we obey his voice to pray, accept, love and serve them, our lives are full of adventure and meaning. I know that sounds weird, but as much as I try to make it different, this is where it is!