The Living and the Dead; what stands in between?

This is the very first time I will be looking at life and death from the point of an observer. Just as we see in the world of sports especially in football where spectators see all the chances frequently missed by the players. It is easier for one to see mistakes and missed opportunities when standing by the side as an observer in any game. This is why I decided to look at life and death from the point of an observer who is not connected to the living (the newborn) or the dead. When a child is born, there is great jubilation in and around the family including the entire community where the parent of the child is known. This joy is felt by those who are in one way or the other connected to the baby or not. I have seen cases where passerby gets into such a jubilant gathering without being invited formally. It goes to show that we as humans are bound together in joy at any time but this is not without the case of an enemy in sight. Some people are naturally known to rejoice in other peoples misfortunes. So when they hear or see others rejoicing, it makes them feel so bad. Have you been involved in any new birth celebrations around your community? It is an experience anyone with a good heart will love to witness.

I have talked about life and how we celebrate it even when we may not have a direct connection with the family celebrating. Let us look at the case of death. The pain that follows the death of a loved one is immeasurable and as such cannot be quantified with anything. When we hear a cry or wailing of the demise of another person’s loved ones, what is the first thing that comes to our minds? First, those who have one connection or the other with the deceased, are left in sorrow and pain because they have lost someone dear to them. People who come across those crying in pain for the demise of their loved ones will always feel sorry for them because they understand what it feels like through experience. To some, they may look the other way just as it does not concern them since it is not a case of celebration and merriment. What do we have in connection with the dead as the living? One great thing we must know is that every dead person was once living which means that even as you are alive today you should not be carried away with the things of life because a day will come when death will come knocking.

I am on my way to attend to the burial of my friend’s father and I believe that there is more consolation in times of grief when you see your friends and families surrounding you. This is why we must not forget to gather around our friends, relatives and even strangers when they lose their loved ones. We must remember that there exists a connection between the dead and the living and this connection lives on even when we have forgotten the dead. I am saddened because I believe that my friend is going through a hard time in her life right now but I believe that our coming together as friends and families will give her the support she needs at this trying time. We cannot do away with the fact that we need each other whenever death occurs just as we need each other whenever life is brought forth. What we must do is to be there in both joy and sorrow because that is what we owe each other in life. Do not think you can do it all alone in life you will need others at one point in life or the other. Let us walk with each other and together we will go through all our hard times and come out of it victorious.

May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace… Amen.