Eternal Life
Death, the great equalizer of all mankind, the enemy that is feared by all at some point during one’s lifetime. Yes, some may welcome it, but most will do whatever it takes to avoid it. For as well all know, life is short but death is forever. So since the beginning of time, we have done whatever we can to avoid this enemy, this plague and our ultimate plight, which all of humanity must face, death.. Throughout history mankind had been trying to “cheat” death. Either by making deals with the devil for eternal life, deals with God for the same, seeking the fountain of youth, developing new technologies to extend human life, exercise, diet, medication, you name it, we will try it, find it, create it or offer ourselves in religious worship with one ultimate goal and that is to beat death. For the thought that this life on earth is it and nothing more almost seems like a cruel joke. Let’s face it, life even with its ups and downs is a wonderful gift and when push comes to shove none of us really wants to lose it.
A poem that is used at many a funeral to bring comfort to the hearers that their loved one hasn’t died is called “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep”. It states:
Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond that glints in the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift up lifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. ---- Mary E. Frye.
The author is creating for the reader an image of how death isn’t really final. That the one who has died is in fact not dead at all instead they are everywhere, that the soul has transcended the physical body and can be anywhere or anything. For as the author states “Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die”.
It is a common
A poem that is used at many a funeral to bring comfort to the hearers that their loved one hasn’t died is called “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep”. It states:
Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond that glints in the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift up lifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. ---- Mary E. Frye.
The author is creating for the reader an image of how death isn’t really final. That the one who has died is in fact not dead at all instead they are everywhere, that the soul has transcended the physical body and can be anywhere or anything. For as the author states “Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die”.
It is a common
Cited: Beecher, Henry Ward. (http:/www.borrowedtyme.com/quotes.html). Christian Beliefs (2002-2011) July 15, 2011. “Eternal”. Encyclopedia of Religion Vol. 5, 1987 http://bible.cc/revelation/21-4.htm Plantinga jr., Cornelius. Engaging God’s World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), 6-7.