The Grieving Room: afterlife II

[apologies for lateness of the hour]

Many months ago (last September, to be exact), I hosted a Grieving Room diary that started like this:

Tonight's topic - afterlife.

Whether or not you've experienced the death of someone close, it's a sure thing you have pondered what is (or might be) coming after we die.   People use the term "passing on" or "crossing over" - the big question is, what is on the other side?   Or are we all simply fated to be memories in the minds of those we leave behind... until they are gone themselves?   A lucky few might make it into the history books, but it's certain that virtually all of us will be unremembered in a hundred years.

So, what more is there?

That diary elicited responses like unlike any I had written before in this series.  Many points of view were shared, all tolerant and generous.

So, consider the question open again, and please dive in to share your thoughts.  What I wrote at the time still stands for me:

I worship at an Episcopal Church, and (for the most part) subscribe to Christian ethics as I understand them.   I have also studied other modes of spirituality, and have picked up a little here and there.   I'm not a hugely dogmatic person, and I struggle with faith.   I took great comfort from the recent revelation that Mother Theresa did too (this is probably the only way in which I would compare myself to her!).

I am starting to reconcile myself to the fact that I will probably never believe in a fluffy-white-clouded heaven full of angelic choirs.   My five year old invented his own version of reincarnation that I would find quite comforting, and in some ways I hope he's right... but to me, it's as far-fetched as the cloud thing.

I do think we each have a spirit... what I can't feel sure of is that it survives the loss of our corporeal bodies at death.    At the time of my mother's death, I could almost picture her weary little spirit, curled like a fetus deep within her, finally being released from what must have been a torturous last chapter.   That was a relief for her, for me.  But I didn't feel it move through me on its way out/up/beyond.    I'd love to believe that the essence of her lives beyond my memories and emotions, and that someday my own, upon its release, might connect with hers once again.   That would be heavenly.

And as always:

A special welcome to anyone who is new to The Grieving Room.  We meet every Monday evening.  Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, whether you have lost a person or a pet, or even if the person you are "mourning" is still alive ("pre-grief" can be a very lonely and confusing time) you can come to this diary and process your grieving in whatever way works for you.  Share whatever you need to share.  We can't solve each other's problems, but we can be a sounding board and a place of connection.