And there shall be no more sorrow nor tears....
Yestarday I experienced one of those moments that hit you on the back of the head and remind you just how precious and fleeting your life can be.
I was rushing around my usual busy day when a dear old friend called me up. She was passing through town.. had a few hours to spare..could I please drop everything and rush over..(I'm so used to it). Then she said one of her family members had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Since they were only in town for the evening we opted on hanging out with them so we could all share our rare out-of-town guests. Now, you would think that given the fact that this was someone I did'nt know, it would have been an awkward and difficult visit. Most people in this situation would wonder what to say, or how to say it. On the contrary, we had an amazing time! Her family (most of whom I knew from before) had such open hearts and a beautiful open home so we just fitted right in. We talked and laughed till late, sharing life experiences, and stories of travels and adventures across different continents, and places we would still like to visit. I was having such a great time at one point I stopped and marvelled that there was someone who was ill in our midst. You could'nt tell if you did'nt know. I dont know what it was about this particular individual that made such an impression on me. As I sat next to him in conversation, it really struck home that I could'nt imagine what it is like to sit and laugh with your family and not know for how long you can do that, or to talk of your hopes and dreams knowing you might not live to fulfill them all, or to tell stories of the past knowing those memories may be wiped away sooner rather than later. I dont know what it would be like to know you may never see your child all grown up, and I definitely have no idea what its like to wake up every day and stare all these unfathomable questions in the face. Yet, the whole time we were there he laughed, shared, gardened, took a walk, and talked of his illness... and he did it all with such grace.
As we were driving home I realised that even though I had met terminally ill patients before, I had never met one who seemed so open about it, so brave and so accepting of it. The more I thought about it, I realised I never heard this individual talk of any regrets. He seemed to have lived his life authentically, and he seemed to be fulfilled; He talked of the good times and good experiences, of the fact that he pursued a very succesful career that he really enjoyed, and of his wife and son.
I hope I never forget the thoughts and feelings I had last night after the time we shared. If nothing else, I hope I always remember how important it is to live authentically and to be fulfilled so I dont ever have to have regrets. And there shall be no more sorrow or tears.. I remember hearing this Bible verse over and over but yestarday for the first time, I understood the comfort it was meant to bring. Life truly is a gift.
Wasiwasi
I was rushing around my usual busy day when a dear old friend called me up. She was passing through town.. had a few hours to spare..could I please drop everything and rush over..(I'm so used to it). Then she said one of her family members had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Since they were only in town for the evening we opted on hanging out with them so we could all share our rare out-of-town guests. Now, you would think that given the fact that this was someone I did'nt know, it would have been an awkward and difficult visit. Most people in this situation would wonder what to say, or how to say it. On the contrary, we had an amazing time! Her family (most of whom I knew from before) had such open hearts and a beautiful open home so we just fitted right in. We talked and laughed till late, sharing life experiences, and stories of travels and adventures across different continents, and places we would still like to visit. I was having such a great time at one point I stopped and marvelled that there was someone who was ill in our midst. You could'nt tell if you did'nt know. I dont know what it was about this particular individual that made such an impression on me. As I sat next to him in conversation, it really struck home that I could'nt imagine what it is like to sit and laugh with your family and not know for how long you can do that, or to talk of your hopes and dreams knowing you might not live to fulfill them all, or to tell stories of the past knowing those memories may be wiped away sooner rather than later. I dont know what it would be like to know you may never see your child all grown up, and I definitely have no idea what its like to wake up every day and stare all these unfathomable questions in the face. Yet, the whole time we were there he laughed, shared, gardened, took a walk, and talked of his illness... and he did it all with such grace.
As we were driving home I realised that even though I had met terminally ill patients before, I had never met one who seemed so open about it, so brave and so accepting of it. The more I thought about it, I realised I never heard this individual talk of any regrets. He seemed to have lived his life authentically, and he seemed to be fulfilled; He talked of the good times and good experiences, of the fact that he pursued a very succesful career that he really enjoyed, and of his wife and son.
I hope I never forget the thoughts and feelings I had last night after the time we shared. If nothing else, I hope I always remember how important it is to live authentically and to be fulfilled so I dont ever have to have regrets. And there shall be no more sorrow or tears.. I remember hearing this Bible verse over and over but yestarday for the first time, I understood the comfort it was meant to bring. Life truly is a gift.
Wasiwasi
posted by Wasiwasi at 3:09 AM
1 Comments:
Very captivating and inspiring piece, such company is good to hang with! I think such a perspective on and approach to life would go a long way in helping most of us experience similarly fulfilled lives. Asante for sharing...even at 3am!!
And, your blog is quite the oasis, keep 'publishing'
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