“The boundaries which divide
life from death are,
at best, shadowy and vague.
Who shall say
where one ends
and where the other begins?”
~ Edgar Allan Poe
What happens when a loved one dies? Where does he go? How does she get there? Is there really a “there” somewhere? The truth is, I suppose, that no one knows for certain. There have been many accounts of individuals who claim to have crossed over into the afterlife only to return and talk about it. I have no reason to question their experiences, but the concept is both unfamiliar to me and, to be honest, a bit incomprehensible.
The reality of death, however, is quite real. I have experienced the passing of loved ones — family members, close friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. What is unclear to me is what happens to them when they die. My faith has taught me, from my earliest days, that there is life after death, and that the ultimate goal of our earthly lives is to earn our place in Heaven. Some claim that a place called Hell exists. I understand the reasoning behind such a belief, but my understanding, limited as it is, is that God is all-loving and all-forgiving, and that our place in Heaven cannot be earned. Rather, it is a gift from our Creator. Maybe I’m right, or maybe I’m wrong. Ah, yes,… and then there’s Purgatory, the celestial waiting room for those who must pay their dues before entering into their Heavenly home. An interesting concept, to be sure.
Contemporary music often sheds a ray of light on the challenging issues of our day. Someone pointed out to me several years ago that it’s interesting to note that Led Zeppelin sings of a Stairway to Heaven, while AC/DC refers to a Highway to Hell — an interesting commentary on the expected travel plans of humans today. If there is a stairway to Heaven, is there also an escalator to Heaven to comply with the “reasonable accommodation” requirement of the 1991 Americans with Disabilities Act? Just wondering.
Continuing with my reflection on the contribution of popular music to real-life issues, the 1971 Carly Simon hit single, Anticipation, urges us to recognize that “these are the good old days.” The song also describes what I am going through at this very moment. It’s 11:00 p.m. and I’m with my mother in her room at the Villa Siena Retirement Community. She is sleeping soundly right now, though her breathing has been a bit laborious tonight. Mom began her journey of hospice care this past Wednesday. No one can say for sure if this journey will be a long one, or if it will end in the near future. We just don’t know. And so, we wait — with hope, with love, with anticipation, and with a tremendous sense of gratitude for a life well-lived. As the legendary Bob Dylan wrote, Mom is Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.
In 1999, the Christian rock group MercyMe released their hit single I Can Only Imagine. This song, too, seems very apropos for this discussion. Since we do not know with any degree of certainty what will greet our loved ones when they die, we are invited to dip-in to the treasure chest of our faith and imagine what the experience might be like. When we do so, we can rightfully take solace in the lyrics of Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 classic, Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
