Three Years On

This week, I met with a very dear and special friend here in town on her way to Nepal where she is going this year for her annual missionary adventure and service.  This is something she does religiously and that is how I met her.  She was first a companion in  my Maryknoll days and we went from there.  She is a New York character, standing up for everyone's rights and opposing an institutional Church that denies these rights in any way, while being so Catholic and so committed to her Church.  She is just one of those most attractive characters I meet being in my Bangkok.

From another New York friend, I came across a spiritual reflection arising from his experience of Nepal which I shared as part of my gift to my dear friend.  The reflection focuses on the Buddhist celebration of death.  According to this reflection, the Buddhists of Nepal do not celebrate birth as much as they celebrate death as death is the release from all that holds us down in life.  Death is then seen as the time for real celebration of life in its fullness. 

This week, I remember three years since my dear mum and dad died.  Ever since they died, I have only had good and fond thoughts about them.  I honestly can only think how kind and generous they were in life and how all they did was love us as best they could.  Then I think, what more can one ask for in life? 

If I go back in life, I remember my difficulties with them and how I struggled with who they were in my life.  With death, that has all gone.  This has been the release of death for me.  I am only left with the kindest and fondest of memories of mum and dad.  This has been the freeing of death - to remember and love two good people and know nothing else.  And why hold onto anything else?  There is no point.  It is just a shame that this did not happen earlier in my life but maybe it takes something as cathartic as death to have such change happen in one's psyche. 

I love you, mum and dad.  I love you, my dear friends.