C
CompSciGuy
Guest
I am not sure where this belongs in the forum, but I feel I have to share it. Sometimes I will share stories of a profound spiritual nature, both so that I can remember them, and just because these stories are the kind that I believe ought to be shared with other people of faith.
About five months ago I went to a funeral of someone I had never met. My wife knew her, she was a former youth group leader when my wife was still in the youth group (back when she was in high school). There were a lot of people present for the funeral who had been in youth group during that time, I think they learned about her death and funeral on facebook and wanted to come and honor her. The woman’s name was Shannon and she died at the age of 31. Even though I have never met her, this funeral has had a profound impact on me and I think about it every day.
The most powerful part of the funeral I think was when her parents came to speak of her last days. There were two things that stuck out to me. The first was that, when Shannon was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her first thought was of her parents, who would take care of them as they got old (I am guessing she had no brothers or sisters). She was concerned about who would take over her duties in her various roles and positions. In other words, she had no thoughts about herself, only others. The second thing that really got to me was that this woman had no fear of death. None. This is a woman who had placed all of her hope in Christ. She knew that she was going to see our Lord in heaven. As a matter of fact, the second to last thing that she said as she was passing from this life was that she could see the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I feel as if I learned everything I ever needed to know about life, death and the afterlife at that funeral. On a daily basis I feel like I am surrounded by people of a secular mindset who believe that this life is all there is, and that we need to fill our lives with empty entertainment and diversion so as to distract ourselves from the fact that we are going to die. This woman’s hope and courage, the way she faced death without fear and had the hope and joy of heaven, this was so much more powerful I think than anything the world has to offer. I think this woman was an incredible example of what a joy it is to live your life in service of others, and the hope that brings you at the end of your life.
About five months ago I went to a funeral of someone I had never met. My wife knew her, she was a former youth group leader when my wife was still in the youth group (back when she was in high school). There were a lot of people present for the funeral who had been in youth group during that time, I think they learned about her death and funeral on facebook and wanted to come and honor her. The woman’s name was Shannon and she died at the age of 31. Even though I have never met her, this funeral has had a profound impact on me and I think about it every day.
The most powerful part of the funeral I think was when her parents came to speak of her last days. There were two things that stuck out to me. The first was that, when Shannon was diagnosed with terminal cancer, her first thought was of her parents, who would take care of them as they got old (I am guessing she had no brothers or sisters). She was concerned about who would take over her duties in her various roles and positions. In other words, she had no thoughts about herself, only others. The second thing that really got to me was that this woman had no fear of death. None. This is a woman who had placed all of her hope in Christ. She knew that she was going to see our Lord in heaven. As a matter of fact, the second to last thing that she said as she was passing from this life was that she could see the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I feel as if I learned everything I ever needed to know about life, death and the afterlife at that funeral. On a daily basis I feel like I am surrounded by people of a secular mindset who believe that this life is all there is, and that we need to fill our lives with empty entertainment and diversion so as to distract ourselves from the fact that we are going to die. This woman’s hope and courage, the way she faced death without fear and had the hope and joy of heaven, this was so much more powerful I think than anything the world has to offer. I think this woman was an incredible example of what a joy it is to live your life in service of others, and the hope that brings you at the end of your life.
