Holy Ground

I literally felt like removing my shoes before I entered his hospital room.

The knowledge that a place is holy ground is not always evident, but when we are in the moments that separate life and death, we actually then realize that these two are connected so deeply. Connected by the holiness that has always been there, but is now allowed to grow and encompass a room, a place because the distractions have been removed.

One of his sons asked me how people die: will their eyes remain open? will it be a sudden revelation? will it be violent or peaceful? will he just slip away?

Death is different than birth this way. Birth involves a struggle, almost a violent entrance into the world- no matter which way the child is delivered into this earth. But death- death has many forms. Preparing for death is much different than preparing for birth.

In someways it is like a trip. Many months, weeks sometimes years, even are spent preparing for embarking on a journey. But not as much time is given to the return trip home. So often we are caught unpreparedd for that journey- our bodies sometimes fight it, our mind holds onto the memories we have made during the journey.

But home is the place to which we must return. And when we arrive, we are met with kisses, hugs, and tears- and the lessons we have learned on our journey are shared and absorbed into our new/old lives.