Musings on Life

Life. It is an idea before it ever becomes a reality. If you believe in God, as many do; before he created the heavens, the Earth and all life that dwells within it, even He must have had an idea before that creation was brought into place. Parents, the ultimate example of true human creativity, have an idea of what their children will look like, act like and how they will interact with that new life. We are an idea before we ever become a reality.
When we are born the world is instantly transformed forever because our presence is now within it. The tiniest of beating hearts seemingly have very little effect on the rest of the world but through the idea that events chain themselves from other events, the birth of one small child can have a lasting impact and no one person could ever realize just what that impact could be. All of this happens in just a matter of a few moments but can last for generations.
With each passing day we as individuals, after becoming self-aware, begin making fantastic and sometimes dreadful memories of our daily lives. It is also true that others are making memories of their daily lives and we are a part of those memories. From the smallest, most intimate moments to the grandest of events in which we each play a part, memories are being made; whether they are cherished, regretted or otherwise.
As we get older we find ourselves harkening back to days when the times were more relaxed and life was a bit easier to deal with. We remember old friends and family who have moved on or left our side for good. Some have moved on to bigger and better things and left us with impressions on our lives that changed us, molded us and sent our lives in directions that may not have occurred had they never been there; some have even passed to a much better place.
From my perspective it is so very important to remember those who have passed on to a better place. We should always let their memory stand as a testament to who they were and never fail to mention them or cherish them at any chance we are given.
Death is just a stage of life that the body must go through in order to complete a very complex cycle. It has been said, “If it were not for death life would have very little meaning.” Without death life has no real significance.
So many think of death as such a finality. In a way, the physical presence being removed from this world, it is very much a finality. However, the person is not just a body. Their personality, their memories, their experiences and the contributions that they make to the world are really what make up the person.
When you are in a dark room and strike a match the light burns into your eyes and for several moments afterward the light is still a glowing memory that will eventually fade into darkness. The same can be said of a person in another persons life. If they are there for a brief time and suddenly leave the warm glow of their memory can be felt by both mind and heart, hopefully for years afterwards.
It is my personal feeling that each individual that touches your life brings a lesson to learn, not only in life but also death. As we mature and grow wiser the memories of those who have gone before us can help us to learn from our current experiences in different ways. This is why death is not a finality to me. They may not physically be in our lives any longer and the pain that is suffered during the loss can be tremendous. They will live on in our hearts, though and if the heart becomes forgetful and all that they were passes beyond memory; that is truly the end of a life. The end of an idea: for it can be said that we come into this world after the idea is formed and we leave before the idea can be forgotten. Never forget them and a persons life is never truly final.