On the joy of death and dying

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Thinking and talking about death is so taboo in our culture. There exists many who are terrified at the very thought of it. But the fact is that Heaven is our true home, and our searching for peace, comfort, meaning, and purpose here in this miserable and corrupt world is complete vanity for many.

I have suffered from major depression, anxiety that has been so very severe at many times, and occasional panic attacks that are so unbearable that they have led to a totally involuntarily urge to commit suicide. This has afflicted me for the past 15 years or so Medications have helped, but nothing has come close to curing them until one day an intense though of wanting to die came into my mind and just sat there for a good 15 minutes or so. The strange thing was that there were no emotions tied to this thought and I never felt the urge to suicide. In fact, I felt total peace and calm. I now view this as a mystical experience where God was calling me to my Heavenly home. I have since become very comfortable about thinking and praying for death and many of my afflictions have been steadily improving ever since.

I’m no longer the least bit afraid of dying, and I thank God that our life on this earth is so short. Although many people who experience misery, and are at a total loss for finding meaning and purpose in this life, actually wish they could live here forever it they could, caring nothing about God’s Heavenly Kingdom! How wretched and foolish are such people!

To be sure, I have become alienated from friends, family and the world at large for sharing these things, and I now seek consolation from nobody but God alone. I live in almost complete solitude, but the Holy Spirit sometimes visits me and fills me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I have lost the ability to experience worldly pleasure in just about everything, and I now see nothing but folly and vanity in the worldly pleasures most people find enjoyment in.

Take a close look at this world, and take special notice at all the hardship and pain and suffering. Especially notice all the extreme poverty that a multitude of people live their life through. How can anybody love their life living in such a miserable and corrupt world where people are suffering so greatly? Have the people who love their life in this world have no empathy? Or, do they maintain an out of sight out of mind attitude?

Anyway, I deeply encourage people, especially the depressed people who often post here on this forum, to learn to be more comfortable in thinking about death and dying that we all must go through very shortly in our short-lived life here on earth. There is no reason whatsoever for it to make you more depressed or suicidal, but be willing to accept this life as long as God has planned for you and know that reaching our Heavenly home will happen soon enough.
 
I used to be afraid to die, but not anymore, now the thought of leaving this world is fine to me. Non existence is always better than existence of too much pain, corruption and suffering.
 
What a depressing thread this is, and there are only two previous posts so far!

Far be it from me, Robert, to deprive you of your misery in this earthly life. Life is hard, tough, seemingly impossible at times, not only due to personal experiences but also in view of the suffering of the multitudes, as you point out. But, in my view, life also has its joys, fleeting as they may often be. Does nothing at all interest you on this earth, including participating in CAF discussions? But I think it is good you have held onto your faith despite all of this suffering.
 
What a depressing thread this is, and there are only two previous posts so far!

Far be it from me, Robert, to deprive you of your misery in this earthly life. Life is hard, tough, seemingly impossible at times, not only due to personal experiences but also in view of the suffering of the multitudes, as you point out. But, in my view, life also has its joys, fleeting as they may often be. Does nothing at all interest you on this earth, including participating in CAF discussions? But I think it is good you have held onto your faith despite all of this suffering.
This is reality not depression, there is joy, but joy doesn’t equal suffering by intensity and quantity.
 
This is reality not depression, there is joy, but joy doesn’t equal suffering by intensity and quantity.
I didn’t say it was depression; I said it was a depressing thread. Maybe reality itself is depressing. Certainly I can understand the existential depression that both you and Robert seem to experience. The world is a tough, confusing place, full of misery, poverty, illness, violence, crime, and death. All I am suggesting, however, is that there is also beauty and joy and inner peace. Your attitude plays a role in how you live on this earth.
 
I tried to reply once before, but it just blipped off the screen, never to be seen again. That happens a lot.

Sometimes I wonder if terribly sad situations are caused by “demon-itis”.

Other than that, I understand that nobody talks about death. They don’t like it.

It makes it hard, however, when you are trying to plan your funeral and your kids don’t want to hear it.
 
I didn’t say it was depression; I said it was a depressing thread. Maybe reality itself is depressing. Certainly I can understand the existential depression that both you and Robert seem to experience. The world is a tough, confusing place, full of misery, poverty, illness, violence, crime, and death. All I am suggesting, however, is that there is also beauty and joy and inner peace. Your attitude plays a role in how you live on this earth.
👍

Despite all the hardships of life, there is also great beauty in it. However, if your eyes are always cast down at the ground, you will never be able to behold the sky.
 
What a depressing thread this is, and there are only two previous posts so far!

Far be it from me, Robert, to deprive you of your misery in this earthly life. Life is hard, tough, seemingly impossible at times, not only due to personal experiences but also in view of the suffering of the multitudes, as you point out. But, in my view, life also has its joys, fleeting as they may often be. Does nothing at all interest you on this earth, including participating in CAF discussions? But I think it is good you have held onto your faith despite all of this suffering.
May you find this life full of worldly enjoyment and have a happy death.

As for me, I have chosen a spiritual path that has alleviated my mental ailments and has filled me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All my consolation now comes from God, and I would never seek consolation from anybody as cold-hearted and filled with misunderstanding as you seem to be. Continue going through this life with blinders, never meditating on the death you will most certainly soon experience. Again, I understand that such meditation is very taboo in our culture and few believe it could provide such peace and calm along with a healthy dose of reality knowing that true happiness will only be found in our true home in Heaven.
 
'THE Kingdom of God is within you,’ says Our Lord. ‘Turn to the Lord with all your heart, forsake this sorry world, and your soul shall find rest.’ Learn to turn from worldly things, and give yourself to spiritual things, and you will see the Kingdom of God come within you. For the Kingdom is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; these are not granted to the wicked. Christ will come to you, and impart his consolations to you, if you prepare a worthy dwelling for Him in your heart. All true glory and beauty is within, and there He delights to dwell. He often visits the spiritual man, and holds sweet discourse with him, granting him refreshing grace, great peace, and friendship exceeding all expectation.
“The Imitation of Christ,” Book 2, Chapter 1
 
May you find this life full of worldly enjoyment and have a happy death.

As for me, I have chosen a spiritual path that has alleviated my mental ailments and has filled me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All my consolation now comes from God, and I would never seek consolation from anybody as cold-hearted and filled with misunderstanding as you seem to be. Continue going through this life with blinders, never meditating on the death you will most certainly soon experience. Again, I understand that such meditation is very taboo in our culture and few believe it could provide such peace and calm along with a healthy dose of reality knowing that true happiness will only be found in our true home in Heaven.
I think you have seriously underestimated meltzerboy. Totally got it wrong.:dts:
 
May you find this life full of worldly enjoyment and have a happy death.

As for me, I have chosen a spiritual path that has alleviated my mental ailments and has filled me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All my consolation now comes from God, and I would never seek consolation from anybody as cold-hearted and filled with misunderstanding as you seem to be. Continue going through this life with blinders, never meditating on the death you will most certainly soon experience. Again, I understand that such meditation is very taboo in our culture and few believe it could provide such peace and calm along with a healthy dose of reality knowing that true happiness will only be found in our true home in Heaven.
Recognizing that there is beauty in life is not a denial of our mortality, it’s a celebration of the wonders God has created for us.
 
May you find this life full of worldly enjoyment and have a happy death.

As for me, I have chosen a spiritual path that has alleviated my mental ailments and has filled me with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All my consolation now comes from God, and I would never seek consolation from anybody as cold-hearted and filled with misunderstanding as you seem to be. Continue going through this life with blinders, never meditating on the death you will most certainly soon experience. Again, I understand that such meditation is very taboo in our culture and few believe it could provide such peace and calm along with a healthy dose of reality knowing that true happiness will only be found in our true home in Heaven.
What did I say that makes you think I am “cold-hearted and filled with misunderstanding”? I assure you I do not go through life with blinders, but I do not exactly agree with your philosophy of life. Is that what makes me cold-hearted? Or is it that I am not trying to dissuade you from the way you think? If this gives you peace, then I support you.
 
I think you have seriously underestimated meltzerboy. Totally got it wrong.:dts:
Again, I fully realize that thinking about death and dying is most taboo in our culture and I fully understand why meltzerboy would consider it a “depressing thread.” But I never intended it for people who have never experienced a mental illness, and I feel that meltzerboy is totally unable to seek or find its true value for those of us who has.
 
Again, I fully realize that thinking about death and dying is most taboo in our culture and I fully understand why meltzerboy would consider it a “depressing thread.” But I never intended it for people who have never experienced a mental illness, and I feel that meltzerboy is totally unable to seek or find its true value for those of us who has.
Robert, now I at least understand your reaction. But you really know very little about my personal life or my inner life, only the external trappings of my profession, religion, political views, and so on. Please do not assume I have no first-hand knowledge about the things you are discussing.
 
Again, I fully realize that thinking about death and dying is most taboo in our culture and I fully understand why meltzerboy would consider it a “depressing thread.” But I never intended it for people who have never experienced a mental illness, and I feel that meltzerboy is totally unable to seek or find its true value for those of us who has.
Rather, we should really be thinking of life and living …and I don’t mean in a materialistic way. There are many very beautiful gifts from God …not least among them is life itself. When we receive the gift of faith, we die to sin, not die from life.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

Besides wisdom, understanding and knowledge, the Holy Spirit also gives us varying degrees of the above.

Love your neighbour as you love yourself… how can we love our neighbour if we hate our own life? Accepting death, when our time comes …or if we have to give it up in martyrdom, is perfectly good and worthy.

Social isolation is not good for us. Depression is a very real illness and requires help from somebody with experience.
 
I have no fear of death and dying yet terribly dislike the pain of loss from death of loved ones. Yet, we should try to love life - even when times are difficult. The simple things are always available. Family, friends, chance meetings, music, sports, nature, find what joy God offers in the moment. Then when we die - we may find we lived.
 
I have no fear of death and dying yet terribly dislike the pain of loss from death of loved ones. Yet, we should try to love life - even when times are difficult. The simple things are always available. Family, friends, chance meetings, music, sports, nature, find what joy God offers in the moment. Then when we die - we may find we lived.
I will always love life itself and value it highly, but not in a world filled with pain, suffering, and hardships–a world where evil undeniably thrives.
 
Robert, now I at least understand your reaction. But you really know very little about my personal life or my inner life, only the external trappings of my profession, religion, political views, and so on. Please do not assume I have no first-hand knowledge about the things you are discussing.
And what about you who most clearly inferred that my life is miserable? Yes, I suffer from mental afflictions but to call my life miserable is a big insult, and nothing can be further from the truth!
 
I fear that you are missing out on something vital and something beautiful. God resides within us - we are to let this light shine out into the world and we are to serve one another in works of love as Jesus taught us. This depression seems to be crushing you. Help is available to you if you are willing. Jesus is life.

It’s late here so bedtime for me. If you write back, I’m not ignoring you.
 
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