Death: A Comma or A Full Stop?
Death: A Comma or A Full Stop?
Reflections on Death, Grief, and Finding Meaning.
Death: The Uncomfortable Conversation
I am seated here reflecting on a topic we would rather postpone discussing. Most of us cannot have a comfortable discussion around the topic of death, yet it is so real.
I wish I were writing about a simpler subject like rest. Some people die while others rest.
Think about it: a man like Abraham in Genesis 15:15 was promised by God that he would go back to his ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. That doesn't sound scary at all.
A different man, Job, in Job 14, acknowledges that he will die and never rise again. He will disappear as water disappears from the seabed. He will lie down and not be awakened or stirred from sleep (Job 14:12-13).
The Finality of Death
In my article about life's constants, I mentioned death as one of them. It is the comma to life, for those who believe in Christ will live, even though they die. In fact, they will not die but sleep (John 11:25-26).
To everyone else, death is a complete stop.
A Personal Loss
Over the Easter season, I took time to mourn my grandmother, who rested peacefully at the impressive age of 102 years. That is a triple-digit age! Will we come close to this abundance of life?
I wanted to consider her passing as a celebration of life, but then how can one celebrate a loss? I held myself strong during the season until the moment her lifeless body was lowered six feet under.
It hit me that I would never see her again, take photos with her, listen to her advice again, and my visits to my village would always be filled with her absence. The sting of death!
Grief's Unexpected Impact
No one prepares you to mourn the death of a loved one. Death hits you like a tornado.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, the author says that we should not grieve about those who are asleep, for if we believe in the death and resurrection of Christ, then we must hope that God will also raise those who have fallen asleep in Christ.
It's a profound scripture, offering encouragement and hope that believers in Christ do not die but fall asleep with the hope of resurrection.
Facing Our Own Mortality
Talking about the death of someone else, a loved one, or a total stranger may be easier than reflecting on one's own death. I am not sure most of us have even thought about our own death. We should not talk about such things.
Whichever is easier for each individual, I think it is essential to lift that lid and think through death. Maybe we would find more meaning in life by thinking about death. Maybe we would find more purpose when we view life with death in mind.
We would redeem our time. We would love more intensely. We would live fully, knowing the end from the beginning and, even more so, being assured of life when we die in Christ.
Death's Defeat
O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55.
Questions for Reflection
How does your personal belief system shape your understanding of death?
If you could prepare yourself for the death of a loved one, what steps (practical or emotional) would you take?
Does contemplating death change how you choose to live your life? If so, in what ways?
For those with faith in Christ, how does the promise of resurrection bring comfort in the face of death?