Reflections On Life And Death

APRIL 25, 1980, 5:47 AM

You have come this morning, o son, without direction and focus. I let your mind run over the story you told yesterday of life and death within your family, particularly that involving Peter. You did it fairly well. The prayer before was a worthy addition. That helped, and can do so in the future. If you are going to use material from the tapes, organize it all on one tape, for efficiency of time.

Now let Me help you reflect upon this intriguing and seemingly important aspect of life… namely, death. You know that I died for you, yet you know that I live and am in a fully functioning state. And as it is with Me, so shall it be with you. Death is an important process by which reality is changed in some ways. Appearance and substance are changed. Communication changes. But know that the ultimate reality of life does not change. Life continues. The manifestation is simply different.

Compare your life now with your early life in Hawaii. You are in a different place, doing different things with different people. Fundamentally, you are doing the same thing – teaching and learning. That shall be so after your death, as well. You have recollections of what you did then… and it was mostly good. It is important to reflect upon that time… even to revisit. But what you are doing now is more important… for you. Know that this will be true at the time of your death… should it be soon or off “in the future”.

Just as all people do not progress in life to tasks that are more satisfying, more challenging, and “more right” for them, so all do not make any further progress in death. Death is not the same experience for each person. It is even more varied than the experiences of life.

To the extent that your life has purpose and that you progress to tasks and responsibilities that are possible because of your past experiences and expertise… and to the extent that you are developing enlightenment on the purpose of existence, on karma, and on My Grace… the progression of life on through death will be an orderly, non-traumatic, and “as expected”, one.

It is like unto your presentation on Man and Her Favorite Mood Modifier. When the time comes for you to present that, you are ready and can do it with nary a flaw. If you suddenly had to do it this afternoon you could brush up quickly and do it well. When you have time to prepare, as for the two scheduled presentations in June you could do it even better. The point is that you are prepared for the task. The experience thus is a basically enjoyable and rewarding one.

After death there always can be some looking back and wishing for more time in the earth. This would be comparable to your looking back now and wishing to be back teaching 8th grade and coaching football at Punahou, or back teaching Marriage and Family at Stanford. Those were wonderful experiences, but what you do now is more suited to who you are now. Look back in reflection and appreciation, but look ahead to the tasks and opportunities that are in store.