Remember November Day 1
Death has been very close lately. Last week I returned from clearing out my Mother’s apartment and visiting with my Uncle; maybe for the last time. Friday I attended the funeral of a man who shined brightly at our humble little island parish and showered affection on my family from the moment we arrived. A good friend’s brother went from diagnosis to departed in a few months and I am finishing his coffin today. Death has been very close to many of us lately.
How is it affecting you? Is everyone as anxious as we read? I hope not.
Yesterday was All Saints Day and today is All Souls Day, kicking off November, the Month of Death. This is a gift, a month of remembrance. Remembrance of those who have gone before us and where we are ourselves headed on this pilgrimage.
Good journeys, calm journeys, rich journeys are ones we are well prepared for. Preparation can turn curveballs into homeruns. 11 years of coffin making has focused me on three critical categories under which we can organize all the important things in life. I put them in a specific hierarchy:
Prayer
Order
Love
People who I’ve witnessed live this hierarchy seem to steady the Earth’s wobble with their presence and ultimately die well. They are not caught unawares.
Let’s not waste the gift of Remember November.