I spoke with my aforementioned friend Gloria today. Seems my words here on line have been making the rounds at my old job. I had not intended that Gloria ever know of them; it was not my intent that she should be given reason to be startled by my reaction to her condition or for any further depression. To my own surprise, she was concerned only that her life had been portrayed in a positive light. I was at first embarrassed, because to one who has not seen the fortitude with which this woman has lived her life, from my writing one might imagine her a person to be pitied.
That is not the case, if I have misled any reader. On the contrary, I do not know if I would have had the ability to hold on through all the trials. I do not think of myself as a terribly strong person, especially emotionally, perhaps because I feel too much. I daresay I would have walked away somewhere along the line. Of course, I have not been faced with the same trials she has, thus I cannot truly say what I would have done.
I talked with Gloria for about an hour, and was drawn to something she said about looking forward to death. Most of us, at least while still blessed with good health, would think that a horrible outlook. Death is always at our side, from the moment our hearts start beating in the womb, but for some reason we view it as an enemy, when it is merely a companion. Actual death, the act of dying, seems to be a very simple thing. It is the potential of pain, I think, and the ending of this illusion we call life that we fear more than dying itself. Gloria spoke of having faith in God (she is a Christian, for a point of reference- I am Wicce.) and knowing that the One would be there to help her across the way. Her resolution about her situation was, as before, astounding. I wish it was something I could transfer to all people BEFORE something dire makes them find it.
It might help us as a species to be more aware of the limitations of this mortal life. Perhaps we would be more inclined to taking care each day to say those I love yous, to take out the moment or two to notice the beauty around us, to stop criticizing little insignificant things. Maybe we would find that missing bit of humanitarianism in ourselves that we admire so much in the selfless- like Mother Teresa.
We have the chances everyday to reach out and make someone else’s life better, if only by making ourselves a bit more approachable. For some reason, this society in particular has stopped being about the community, and become almost completely about the individual. It will be our downfall if we are not careful. I hope personally that we can learn from people like Gloria to not wait until mortality knocks on the door to collect and be just a little more at peace with ourselves, so we might spread that out to the world.
We are supposed to be an example to the rest of the world. Right now, far too much of it hates or fears us, and that needs to change, or we all lose.
Remember folks: from the Judeo-Christian writings: On earth, as it is in heaven. It is our duty to live up to that, one on one, every day.
And that’s from a deeply spiritual Pagan.