People who have undergone a near-death experience, after an accident, say, or when their heart 'stops' on the operating table, very often find that, as they recover, they are overcome by a deep sense of gratitude for life. Ordinary, common things are seen to be beautiful, to be graced. An awareness of 'something more' seeps through their consciousness. What was previously taken for granted becomes precious, luminous and unique. "You get stabbed by the beauty of things," Viktor Frankl wrote after a near death experience, "by flowers and babies, just by the very act of living, of walking, of breathing and talking to friends."
Now life is a savouring of the moment. No longer willing to spend long hours in the office or scheming to buy a new house or a better car, they learn to listen to their inner selves. How authentic am I? How real? An understanding of how they got lost in the relentless busyness of their self-centered lives fills them with sadness at the wasted years. But a deeper hope rises; all is not lost, now is the hour of new beginnings.
November is the month of the Holy Souls, is, one could say, another kind of near death experience. It is an invitation, when we open ourselves to it, to a more authentic way of living. Our thoughts are with the dead and we pray for them, trusting them to God's eternal embrace, trusting that they are safe, at home, with all the at-easiness, the belonging, the comfort the word holds. "Though I walk in the valley and the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me…you comfort me" (Ps 23).
Even as we pray, often in pain and with many tears, we know that soon we too will draw our last breath. This sharper awareness of our mortality may not be welcome but it is a wake up call to look at our lives, at the choices we are making, the road we are taking.
"You must be ready," Jesus told his followers, "for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour" (Lk 12:40). No one wants to be overwhelmed by 'if only' feelings on their death bed. If only I had been kinder; if only I had let go of resentments and forgiven people; if only I had been more concerned for others... "Be ready." Now is the time to deal with those 'if onlys'. We can drop the masks, do away with pretence, be ' real' and with God's grace be ready for His final call, be ready for a real death experience, for our entry into eternal life.
Sr Redempta Twomey is Assistant Editor of the Far East at St Columban’s, Navan, Ireland.
Read another reflection
or
Read more articles from the current E-News