At this time of year, here in the Northern hemisphere, as
the days get shorter and nights longer, I am always reminded of my mother
Joan Hodgson`s passing. The actual date was 8th October, very near St Francis
day, and I am looking at a copy of his famous poem `Lord Make me an Instrument
of Your Peace` as I write this. I read the poem at the opening of our Peace Day
in the New Lands Temple just over a week ago, and the beautiful and evocative
words never fail to touch my heart.
Even if we believe strongly that life continues after the
physical death of the body, there is still bound to be some sadness and
feelings of loss when a close friend, family member or loved one passes on.
This is natural. Anniversary times are particularly poignant, and remembering
our loved ones in no way `holds them back` in their new lives of greater
freedom.
As I think of Joan, my mother, at this time of year, I feel
joy at her freedom, and also her encouragement that life really is eternal. It
is indeed, as in the words of St Francis, that `in dying we are born to eternal
life` she affirms, for we realise without any doubt that things go on in the
same way. Life is more beautiful, yes, but it is not a question of sitting on a
cloud with angels playing harps; that would be boring after a while! We make
our life in heaven beautiful through our own efforts, our creativity and
positive thoughts, just as we do whilst in physical bodies. There are still
challenges to be embraced in heaven, lessons to be learned, hills to
climb, but if we open our spiritual eyes wide, we can see with ever clearer
perspective the glory of God`s great plan for our personal lives and indeed
for the whole world. Our faith can grow stronger and stronger, and we can help
our loved ones still in physciall bodies to feel this too.
White Eagle says in THE LIGHTBRINGER: `As they grow in
spirit, people will no longer fear death because they will be quickened to
life in spirit. Death with all its morbid trappings will be a thing of the
past...Death will be swallowed up in victory, in immortality, because when
men and women learn to live by the true spirit, recognising in each other the
same spirit as that within themselves, they will know there is no separation by
death.`
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