After a death in the family

Last Friday, the phone rang and a doctor told me my mom "had decided to leave us." Even though she was 95, her health in recent weeks seemed to be holding steady and she had participated in the normal activities of the day, before climbing into bed. Then a sudden wave of pain overcame her and within minutes her life ended...It's a stark reality of our journeys...that death comes in all forms. For some it is quick and peaceful...for others, long and painful. During the same week in the same funeral home, there was a 25 year- old girl who died of an infection that was a complication of a brain operation. And of course, Sen. Ted Kennedy lost his brave 15-month battle with brain cancer. Death remains a mystery to all of us here on earth...Where do we go...is our energy reused? Do we dance in clouds or float through walls or inhabit the spiritual essence of others? What is "heaven"? We grieve our loved ones, theorize about what they are doing or how they are watching over us and, somehow, the survivors gain strength from sharing the pain with others. It's an important part of our physical and spiritual health to participate in some form of remembrance of those lost. Families gather together to mourn the young or celebrate the lives of those who have been blessed with longevity...Like fragile flowers that struggle to survive a storm, we are watered with the hope that perhaps we'll meet our loved ones again somewhere beyond time and space.