BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

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Love, Peace and Kindness

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Elaine

Thank you Buzz.

Thank you so much for the absolutely beautiful essay by Dr. Teresa Whitehurst. I sobbed as I read it, remembering every moment of my father's death from small cell lung cancer three years ago.

He said to me one morning: "I can't fight anymore. I don't want to live anymore. Let's go to the hospital now." My sister and I took him to the VA hospital and admitted him to the hospice care unit. He died nine days later.

During those nine days, and unbeknownst to my sister and my brother and me, our father's relatives were busy behind the scenes trying to get him to sign a will leaving everything to his "girlfriend." She also tried to marry our father as he lay gasping for air and on constant morphine drip. After he died, she (the girlfriend), and my own grandmother, sued me for my father's "estate," which was absurdly small. Just one half of a house. The girlfriend "won," took every single penny from the sale of the house, and left town. My brothers and sisters and I were left with a $40,000 lawyer bill.

* * *

I held my father's hand as he died. I'm so glad I was able to be there for him, his first-born daughter.

His funeral was September 10, 2001. I stayed up all night. Early in the morning of September 11, I went to BuzzFlash as I did every day. I saw a photo of a plane crashing into a building. I thought: "My God, what a sick joke. Who the hell would make a movie ad like this?" I really thought it was a spoof or a joke. Then I clicked on the story.

I turned on the TV, and stood in my living room watching the horrors of 911 unfold. The day before, I had buried my father and my best friend, and I had thought that my world was ending then. But I knew it for sure as I watched the twin towers collapse.

Instead of the anger and rage and revenge that has taken over our country and government since then, my heart became filled with the pain of recognition that we are truly all One. Every person on the planet suffered on 911. And every person on the planet suffers when another bomb drops on Iraq. Oh yes, so many of us are just so jaded, so cynical. They tell me to stop being such a bleeding heart Liberal; " that's Life." "Some wars are necessary." And of course, they are devoutly "religious." I feel sorry for those people. They must be very lonely in their hatred.

Well, Dr. Whitehurst so beautifully illustrates the Truth that comes at the end of our lives. We die alone; but we don't have to die lonely or afraid. And no dogma, no Bible verse, no trite phrase or rote prayer will really comfort you or ease your pain or calm your fear at that time. It is only human touch, true compassionate Love, that contains the power to help us as we face the unknown.

It's the love in your Brother's eyes, the touch of your Sister's hand, the stroke of your Child as she rubs your brow and says over and over: "I love you, thank you for being in my life. It's OK to go now, I'm right here with you. I'll never forget you, I will only think of you with joy and remembrance in my heart. I love you."

If only we could stop what we are doing, for just one moment, and reflect on the fact that someday we all will be facing Death; we may be alone at that time, or we may be fortunate enough to have someone with us. Hopefully, we will have lived a Life that touched someone's heart, taught a valuable lesson, or stood as an example of Love or Peace or Kindness. And perhaps that kindness will be there for us as we face the Unknown. We know we travel alone, but how blessed we would be to have someone hold our hand till that last moment. And that our last thought will be a loving one.

Thank you for Dr. Whitehurst's essay, and thank you for allowing me to express myself here. You have been performing an invaluable service to millions, Buzz, and I for one am so grateful. Thank you and God Bless You and everyone at BuzzFlash.com.

Elaine

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION