Overwhelming Realizations

Image by Travis Hightower Imaging via Flickr

I’ve had several things come to light this week.  I’m sure my new wonders of this life are NOT news to some of you, but to me they are almost overwhelming realizations.  I’m a little bit apprehensive to write these thoughts, but I think it will really help some to see even more of me and the old me.

With the passing of my Uncle this week, the visitation, and the funeral, these have really brought a lot of life into focus for me.  I suppose for someone just coming into this life after leaving the one I left, this is a normal “WOW!”

Be Careful, You Never Know How  Many People You Touch

My Uncle lived in this town for a long time, but not as long as I can remember.  My early memories are visiting the family in a town about 30 minutes from here. Closer to Nashville.

When they moved here, he still worked out of town.  I realized after watching all the people filing in this week to pay their respects, sending flowers and gifts, showing up for the ceremony, that even though I didn’t think he spent a lot of time in town, he spent a lot of time in town.  Enough time that He touched way more people than I think I ever could.

It Was About Time

His passing was also the first passing of the generation before me that I remember hanging around.  After this generation is gone, it’s time for mine, and then it won’t matter.

I am so glad I changed my life around when I did.  I now have a new respect for what lies ahead of me.  It has put more of a time limit on what I want to achieve in this new life.  It was about time I changed when I did.

Death Has A New Sadness

The sadness of a death that I felt prior to this was a sadness of doom and gloom and all horrible things one could imagine.  It was as if now, whomever lay in the casket it was the end.  Their children will never see them and they will never see their children.  The end of the road.

But now, death has a new sadness.  Sure it was a very sad affair.  I mean, I am human, we are all human, he will be missed very much.  His jokes, his laughter, his sneakiness.  Yes, the man will be missed.

When I first walked in and saw him laying there, I felt a bit of relief for my Uncle who lay there in peace.  I could see his smile just as big as ever.  It was a happy sad, if that makes sense.  It wasn’t over.  For him, it was all just beginning.  (No, I didn’t get this from the funeral service, I got this feeling when I first saw him.)

Realizing that life begins at death really gives death a completely new life. For those who do not believe there is nothing after we are gone but dust, how sad an affair death must still be.

What else did I miss?

Because of HIM

SC