‘Death is indeed a fearful piece of brutality. There is no sense in pretending otherwise,’ Carl Jung wrote on the death of Emma, his beloved wife of 52 years. But, he added, ‘from another point of view death appears as a joyful event … in which the soul attains its missing half. It is a wedding.’ To this day it is the custom in many parts of the world to hold a picnic on the graves of departed ones on All Souls’ Day. Such communal rituals express the feeling that death is really a festive occasion. When we die our deeds – how we have lived our lives – will follow along with us, and so it is important that, at the end, we do not stand with empty hands! Such a reflection reminds us of the importance of each one of us living our lives to the full, fulfilling our individual destinies.
Dear James,
Thank you! You really do give food for thought and so often at a really significant moment, James!
Living our lives to the full is a calling to a continuous creative learning curve, that requires our response in trust and humility, that allows/enables both to grow through life’s ups and downs, rather like a muscle that can become stronger with use.
Sometimes there are moments we need to acknowledge our weakness, our weariness. It is then that the love of others is such an enormous blessing encouraging us, as if carrying us, through their faith, to Jesus who heals and sends us all on our way again, rejoicing.
It also enables us to recognise Community, the body of Christ present in us as people of faith in him eternally. Grief is real and hard; it has its seasons, offers glimpses of his Peace which will and do joyfully link us with those who have died and live in love, with him – and with us always . Something to rejoice and rest in!
With Love,
THis is an amazing quote and beautiful blog. Thank you James. xx