Facing the leap, the chasm, which takes you from one life to
the next, you pass with nothing but your “self” but that is too much. The body
must stay behind. You travel lightly; spirit only can fit through that eye of
the needle.
I have
known people who linger on because of possessions. They are either defined by
them, as in “work” or past jobs and titles. Or those who just can’t bear to
have them pass to others. Some grasp things to themselves too long, far longer
than their bodies are able to clasp to themselves. The law of disuse sets in…things
are meant to be used, enjoyed.
Putting
myself mentally at the moment of death, I see and know that we step away from
all of the weights, these encumbrances that have demanded from us; made us
their slaves in upkeep or a slave to pretension of being owned and defined by
their presence. We take that step and we don’t mind at all. Suddenly we wonder
why it drove or compelled us at all. It is so easy to step away and even easier
to leave the weight of the body that weighed us down as much as it provided a
vehicle for delight.
We will,
in the final analysis, leave with even less than we arrived with: sans body. We
must discipline ourselves to attend to the things that truly matter; to be
willing to be limited in our affinities. To be stewards and not owners—including
our body. To hold things so lightly that, like sand flowing through spread
fingers, we release as easily as things come.
What
remains? Faith. Hope. Love. You must have
faith in something. Some One or that leap and chasm is into fear and not
familiar…love…home.
copyright 2016 Katherine A. Carroll
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