ON BEING READY TO RIDE

I remember when I first read "Beware of running from yourself and your own legitimate suffering, which is the price of being a human being in a limited world." (Rohr, "Daily Meditation," 8/1/13)

That comes to me this morning as I ponder more deeply death...my death, of course. Death itself is nothing to ponder. It just is. But my death, now that's a whole 'nother thing.

Other than my age there is nothing indicating I'm near or even nearing death. But I've seen too many apparently happy, joyous and free people, when it unexpectedly came their time, resist death in either fear or anger. I've known others who met their death peacefully...with an inner joy. That, I imagine, is what we'd all like.

What I'm being led to is the realization that there is no preparing for death per se. There is living our life as well and happily as we can, cleaning up our missteps as we go, with the welfare of others our first priority...if, that is, we've truly committed to living by spiritual principles.

I suspect the hang-up for many of us is that "with the welfare of others first." That hits the old ego's panic button of "but what about me?" Ego always speaks louder than God, that's why we need the daily discipline of meditation...to learn to listen for the still, small voice before ego edges God out.

There's my preparation for death with a smile in my heart...to continue to live each day as concerned for her peace of mind, for his resentment-free mind, as I am for my own. Maybe, instead of "continue" it should be "improve"...to improve my living each day, etc. I'm happy to realize I do live that today...even if it does take an hour or a day to catch myself and turn me around.

I'm heading in the right direction. I suspect my inner comfort comes from realizing that I am heading in the right direction and so is everybody that I know and love. Everybody dies alone physically, but if physically were the jackpot, God would be physically present to  us. So knock yourself out, Death, I've got my God, my peeps, old Lucy...we're ready to ride.

Thank you.