February 1st, 2011
UPDATE
Can you believe it .We managed to find a spot in Bondi junction to stay the night. Gotta love the flexibility of Winnebago living.
This was handy as Bess went to the opening of Nick Giannopoulos’ s new movie ‘Kings of Mykanos at Bondi Hoyts where she caught up with old friends Tanya Zaietta, Deter Brumer and a few of the old crew.
Today we are going to hear Guru Grant Hilton talking at the Mind Body Spirit festival, as well as hopefully sourcing other interesting people to expand our undertstandig of Life & Change.
Then off out to Quakers Hill to unload the Winnebago ready to return it —-Yikkkess!! HOMELESS?
THE ULTIMATE LIFE CHANGE EXPERIMENT
For all our expectations, judgments and preconcieved ideas about who we are, how we look and how important we are in our own little worlds, there is nothing more sobering than seeing someone who was once young and vital near deaths door.
Once full of just as much life and ‘illusion’ as you and I, now lying, helpless, gaunt, broken.
This was the harsh reality of our visit with Bessies 38 year old brother yesterday and it left us both quite shaken.
Its so easy to forget, in this country where death and suffering is removed from view, and vitality is worshiped, that underneath all the huff, puff, bluff, make up and designer clothing lies a carbon based life form like any other, just a few drops of water away from being inanimate ash.
But this blog is not intended to be about the sadness or shock of sickness and death. Seeing him like this sharpend our resolve to live life for all its worth. Seeking to understand our own illusions, rather than getting trapped in other peoples. Looking to live as the exception rather than the rule. And hopefully sharing the fleeting moments of this fragile thing we call life with others on the same path.
James by his own admision has not done much with his life by the normal standards. He regrets that soreley now.
But the fact is that all the fears he once held onto so tight, that stopped him living his life to the full. The concenrs we all share about security, what others will say, not being good enough, cleaver enough, brave enough or lucky enough, look kind of silly now in the face of the ultimate Life Change Experiment – Death
As the old saying goes ‘There but by the grace of god go any one of us at anytime’, So today and every day let us really live for all thoes who are so sick they can not, or never will again.
Thanks James for this reminder – You may well have done more and changed more lives than you will ever know
LOVE YOUR SUPPORT
We got an email from Sam Branson, Richards son. He asked us if we could pass it on.
“Hi Bess if you haven’t heard, dad ran the London marathon in 5 hours. We think this is a great feat for a man who is nearly 60 (oops he may not want people to know that!) So we thought we would hack into his email to let you all know how to sponsor him as we know he won’t ask himself.
Please go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/richardbranson to donate to some amazing charities
5 Comments on "13-05 The Ultimate Life Change Experience – Death"
A poignant reminder to make every day count. One of the reasons I see myself as being ‘lucky’ to be living with lupus is exactly that – I make the most of LIVING my life, because I truly don’t know what tomorrow or next week or next year will bring. Having lupus keeps me motivated to keep on living my life in the best way I can and helps to stop me from limiting myself as much I would if I didn’t have it. Ironic really.
Death is not the end.. and we are not just clay bodies.. we are spirit, soul and body, although the body pass away.. the spirit will live on..
I have held the body of our dying son along with his dad.. and felt the difference in his body when his heart stopped beating.. something more was missing then just a heart stopping and body shutting down.. His Spirit left.. that which made him…. him.. it was that obvious to us..
I will pray for James… that before his body expires on earth his spirit knows the way to eternal life with JESUS and is reborn.. JESUS is the only way to GOD.. and heaven.. and even though James might have not lived as he could have.. He can die and live the eternal life of which goes on forever and ever that was bought and paid for by JESUS death.. so really what he did in this life will not matter if he knows GOD before his heart stops beating and his spirit leaves to go where spirits go when they leave the body..
For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
I know you may well not believe that there is a heaven and hell.. but the bible says there is.. and once you die it is too late to make that choice.. only in life can you make it..It is also too late to find out there is heaven and hell once you are dead…
So it is of utmost importance to make peace with GOD before one dies.. That is why I will pray James gets a chance…
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me
I know it sounds preachy.. but just think.. if heaven is real and God is real.. and there is hell to shun.. if I didn’t tell you and you were dying that would be the greatest tradgedy.. the most evil thing..
If I am wrong.. then what is lost.. I believe the bible.. and I think your brother deserves the right to choose…
Thank you for allowing me to post these things.. I am sorry for what is happening to your brother Bess… and that his health is being taken from him this way..
Bess,
As I sit here, wondering if I can type the right words to help your emotions, please know my eyes are welling up. I cannot comprehend what you are going through and only think now that maybe our meeting in Queanbeyan was for me to give you that book. The Path to Success (unfortunately I didn’t get to choose the title) has the story of what I learned when my 26 year old brother passed away. I’ve since learned much more & 2 of those lessons are:
a. Natural tears (as opposed to those from cutting onion) have a natural painkiller in them (leucine enkephalin). Our bodies know when we need this
b. People may grieve the way they live. If family members are usually inhibited with their emotion / personal details, so too may they be with their grief. Tensions can be high and people that are normally quite controlled can react very differently to what’s expected (ie because they’re happy to live outwardly and express emotion).
I’m not sure what else to say. My prayers are with you and James and I do believe his spirit will live on.
All my love,
Larissa
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Bess,
As I sit here, wondering if I can type the right words to help your emotions, please know my eyes are welling up. I cannot comprehend what you are going through and only think now that maybe our meeting in Queanbeyan was for me to give you that book. The Path to Success (unfortunately I didn’t get to choose the title) has the story of what I learned when my 26 year old brother passed away. I’ve since learned much more & 2 of those lessons are:
a. Natural tears (as opposed to those from cutting onion) have a natural painkiller in them (leucine enkephalin). Our bodies know when we need this
b. People may grieve the way they live. If family members are usually inhibited with their emotion / personal details, so too may they be with their grief. Tensions can be high and people that are normally quite controlled can react very differently to what’s expected (ie because they’re happy to live outwardly and express emotion).
I’m not sure what else to say. My prayers are with you and James and I do believe his spirit will live on.
All my love,
Larissa
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