Birth & Death

(Do you know how you can hear something and make it such a part of your thinking, that it becomes your own?  Well, I don’t remember from whom I first heard the following illustration, but I’ve used it for years.  I believe it can be of great comfort to those who are facing death or who have faced the death of a loved one).

In the warmth and darkness of his mother’s womb, a pre-born infant heard the voice of God say, “My son, today you are going to be born.”  “Be what?” said the infant?  “Born,” said the Lord.  “Today you will take a journey to where you have never before been.  You will soon discover a new world filled with new sights, and sounds.  You’ll leave the darkness of the womb and experience light, feel the dry warmth of diapers and blankets, and you’ll eat in a totally new way.  And best of all, you’ll be able to see your mother and father face-to-face for the very first time and be embraced by them.”

However, the infant said, “Lord, I don’t want to take this journey.  I like it where I am. Why would I want to leave the womb.  I feel safe and comfortable here.  While all the things you described, such as light, diapers, blankets, and eating all sound nice, I’ve never seen any of them before, and I’m happy just the way I am without them.  Besides, I’m afraid it will hurt.  Will it?”  “Yes, my son, it may hurt a little, but not for long.  Just trust me. It’ll be okay.”  But the infant struggled with trusting the Lord and was born fighting and screaming the whole way.  But no sooner than he left the darkness and familiar surroundings of the womb, he found himself in the loving arms of his mother and father and looking at them face-to-face.  As the infant was being held in the gentle embrace of its parents loving arms, he said, “Lord, I feel foolish for not trusting you. You, of course, were right.  This is wonderful!  Thank you for the transition of birth.”

Likewise, one day while lying on his death-bed, an elderly saint heard the voice of God say, “My son, today you are going to die.”  “Die?” said the elderly saint.  “Yes, die” said the Lord.  “Today you will take a journey to a place where you have never before been.  You will soon discover a new world with new sights and sounds.  You’ll see angels, arch-angels, cherubim and seraphim.  And best of all, you’ll be able to see your Heavenly father face-to-face for the first time.”

However, the elderly saint said, “Lord, I don’t want to die.  I’ve grown accustomed to life on this earth.  I don’t doubt that angels, arch-angels, cherubim and seraphim are really wonderful, but I’ve never seen any of them before, and I think I could have a full life without ever seeing them.  I like it here where I’m comfortable.  And besides, I’m afraid death will hurt.  Will it?”  “Yes, my son, it may hurt a little, but not for long.  Just trust me. It’ll be okay.  But the elderly saint had trouble trusting God and he fought against death with all his strength.  But no sooner than this elderly saint passed through death into eternity, he found himself in the loving arms of his Heavenly Father, wondering why he was so afraid.  Humbly he looked into the face of his Father and said, “Lord, I feel foolish for not trusting you.  You, of course, were right.  This is a wonderful place!  Thank you for this transition of death into eternity!”