Oscar Wilde once said “One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything, except a good reputation.”

How do you interpret such a quote and how do you feel about your own life, its meaning and mortality?  The poet Thomas Gray wrote a poem “Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFXiiUg0TB8&feature=related

This poem although somewhat maudlin describes how every person is born, lives and then dies.  How do we understand the world which is around us?  We only have so many years on earth and then we confront mortality.  It is hard for us to comprehend life as we know it and often we take that which is around us for granted.  Each day God grants us life and yet we never really seem to understand how grateful we should be.  Grudges may be carried, forgiveness jettisoned and greedy prevalent.  What about the basic human necessity? 

As I scrolled through the list of topics suggested, I found the word bereavement.  How can one interpret such a word?  Perhaps you can think of someone in your own life who made an impression on you and you never really got to tell them how much you loved, cared, respected or even wanted to know them better?  I can think of many in my life but simply knowing how to act, relate and respond was something I just seemed to struggle to do at the time.  Why is it so difficult to tell someone you love them or even to compliment on something good that they may do?  It just seems so difficult for many and easy for few.  I think as a society we unfortunately become more selfish in what the competitive world expects of us and yet when it really boils down to reality, we often forget others around us.  Unfortunately it can be just too late. 

So how would you define bereavement?  Why do word have different meanings and feelings?  Just like paintings a picture can look different to the eye of the beholder. Why do we see things differently?  Is it just part of our upbringing or nature?  Maybe you can think more closely about how bereavement has influenced your life or that of others.  I can remember when I was young that days and even weeks used to be long but as you grow older, they become shorter.  Soon your birthday comes up and you can remember the childhood cake with the 7 candles now multiplying and ever increasing.  Are we all part of God’s big plan or do you have other thoughts?