Ragamuffin Soul - Latest Comments in Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Renee Garcia — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:11:50 -0000

Death has been a HUGE part of my life over the last 4 years... I have been to 4 funerals and have sat by while many more people died... all children... all to cancer... and it SUCKS. I know they are in Heaven now, with Jesus, pain free and cancer free, but for the friends and family left behind, it royally sucks and it's NOT fair. There's my vent for the day.

I think about death a lot, especially where Kennedy is concerned. I think any parent with a child with cancer would tell you the same... it's an unfortunate part of our world and we just pray that God doesn't let it destroy us.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Carrie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:29:55 -0000

I never thought death was real. I could never imagine a world without me in it. HOW self centered is that!

THEN ......back in December of 07 I got to hear that I have stage IV lung cancer. There is no stage V and they never down grade you. I am dying.

YUP I had to do some amazing re-thinking! MEEEE .......sssheeeesh how would the world turn without me.

I sure hope God is real.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Jessica — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:18:11 -0000

I have been thinking about it lately mainly because of a friend. I don't think I am afraid of it, but it is one of those things that I guess I will know when it happens. I want to make sure I leave a legacy that pleases and glorifies God. I want to make a moment out of everything. For right now I want to spend as much time doing God's work and planting seeds and spending as much time with the people I love.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Amy I — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:31:13 -0000

wow, thanks for making me cry. Yea I think about death a lot. How I couldn't imagine life with out my baby or Chris. Couldn't imagine livng with out my family and more than anything thinking about there suffering when I'm gone. Sad sad thought I think

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Kelly S — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:42:17 -0000

I'm more afraid of those I love dying, than dying myself. I lost my dad in a plane crash and I've been afraid of EVER having that type of pain again...and losing someone. But, I trust God to get me through it, should it happen.

I follow Randy Paush's (sp) blog..he is still doing okay, he made it through Christmas and with Father's day being this Sunday, looks like HE WILL ENJOY ANOTHER FATHER'S day with his kids. I praise God for that. He is an amazing man.
Kelly S.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Dave — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:11:43 -0000

It's funny... i'm not the least bit nervous.... ABOUT ME. But I'm petrified that my wife or children will die.

I don't know how I'd make it through that one

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

rebecca — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:28:13 -0000

I don't fear my own death. Now, my husband, he should fear my death (5 kids to raise). Ha.

What I fear is my parents' deaths. We are so close, and I can't imagine how we'll live when they're not in the world anymore.

So, I just don't think about it. 3 mantras I live by:

1 My children will always be young
2 I will always be healthy
3 My parents will never die

Nothing wrong with a little denial to get you through the day.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Heidi Reed — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:42:26 -0000

I think about death almost daily. Hard not to when I have 2 kids and 1 on the way. Things changed when I became a parent. I don't want to die young either. Not because I am afraid. I can't wait to get to heaven. No. I don't want to die young because I don't want my family shattered. My kids need me. So does my husband.

Here's to long life, Los. And when we meet in Heaven it'll be awesome... but not too soon. Ya know!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

RachelB — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:10:30 -0000

I don't fear death at all! I don't fear looking my Father in the eyes and accounting for my choices. I am so amazed that I GET to look Him in the eyes and I can't wait to be with Him and have all of the pain of this world removed FOREVER!

BUT, I do love this life for all of its heartaches and brokenness. There are so many glimpses of Him everywhere you look. But why would I want to just catch glimpses when I can be in the presence of the real thing with the people I love??

That's how I feel about it... Not to say that I wouldn't be horrified if my end came in the form of a shark bite or anything, but at least it would get me to the gates! : )

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

gbrad@mag — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:29:20 -0000

NOpe. Used to. And every now and then I forget and panic . . . but absent with the body, present with the Lord. Church-ed up answer or not these are the words of truth and life. Better than anything that's here. We have to love GOD more than the stuff HE GIVES US so that we can be set apart for everlasting life. GOD gets all glory. ALL. Iwouldn't be here if it wasn't for Him, so I am His . . . and I'll never forget the price He paid for me.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

AuntieB — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:04:40 -0000

I've had an interesting encounter with death. It doesn't scare me anymore.

I still don't live as full as I should, at times. But I'm determined to live to the fullest.

Part 1 of my story is up over on my blog.

http://auntiebsday.blogspot...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

AA — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:03:31 -0000

The notion of death does not bother me, we all die. Of course, I'd like to pick how I pass, but I doubt I'll be that lucky. The apprehension around my own death is mostly tied to estate planning. More recently, I've been more obsessed with getting all the future planning, living wills, etc in order for those that survive me. It seems all so morbid. :/

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Steve Dunham — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:59:29 -0000

I used to rarely think about death, but the older I get (47) the more I realize just how temporal our lives on earth are. I actually wrote a post "kinda about" this topic a couple of weeks ago.

http://stevendunham.com/?p=134

But as to death... the biggest part of me that fully trusts is not afraid and remains ever hopeful, but the small part of me that sometimes doubts is terrified that this may be all there is.

Judy: I just said a prayer for you and your son. Thanks for sharing your struggle.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

CaroleTurner — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:06:37 -0000

It reminds me of my friend George who died last August from Pacreatic Cancer. He was so fun. I miss him very much.

I am not afraid to die I am just wanting to make sure I live every second here on Earth like it was my last. I love how he says "I like living" I thnk we should all be really living not just taking in air.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

artsymom31 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:47:24 -0000

totally freaked about death. both the when and the how. i, too, am a total control freak (even though i know i have none). *vulnerable moment* i think it's because my biological father died before i was born in a hunting accident. i never knew him. then i watched my grandfather die of a horrible disease. the pain associated with death is probably what scares me most.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Judy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:00:52 -0000

Well, this is a subject I've thought a lot about since I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer back in Jan. I'll tell you, it's one thing to think about your own mortality in an intellectual way when you're not actually faced with it, and it's another thing entirely to think about it when you are faced with it.

Randy Pausch is an admirable man, truly. I saw his lecture and read his book. He's amazing.

For me, well, my "prognosis" is longer than his. According to my oncologist I have anywhere from 5-9 years. This is difficult, though, being a mother to a 6 year old boy; in addition, my boy, being adopted, has already lost one mother. This is what breaks my heart. I hate for him to lose another mother.

So I have problems with the prognosis of mine. I want to be here to raise my son. It's that simple.

I've written a lot about my feelings about death, about mortality, on my blog. I struggle with them all the time. They change. I pray about it all the time.

And I know that it's so much more in God's hands than in any "prognosis."

My last big blog about it is here:
http://justenjoyhim.wordpre...

Interesting question, Los. Still, it's one of those things that profoundly changes once it becomes real, once you're really faced with your own mortality. It's not just a "what if?" anymore.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

The Domestic Goddess — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:55:31 -0000

It's not death I worry about. I know it's coming eventually. It's leaving kids behind that really, really need their mother. But I'm confident that He knows what he is doing, you know?
It's actually the wooden box I fear. I don't like small spaces.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Nathaniel Scott — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:38:52 -0000

i'm not afraid of death...at least i don't worry about it. when it comes to thinking of my death, it makes me want to do all the good i can and not leave any debt behind for my family so they can be concerned with doing all the good they can do instead of paying off my debt legacy.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Emily — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:15:40 -0000

My death doesn't scare me, really. I'm more afraid of losing those close to me.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Scott Fillmer — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:00:48 -0000

That is pretty incredible... lost my mother-in-law to cancer recently, hard to watch someone you care about die, but it does bring home your own mortality.

Isn't this what our faith is all about? Christ conquered death, and to be absent from the body (here on earth, our earthly bodies) is to be with God. How much better can that get? I think it is the transition we all fear most.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Heather — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:14:38 -0000

Unfortunately I do fear death, I know that as a believer I should not. However, I think what I fear is the "kind" of death. I often think if I die naturally then that is fine. Also, you put the kids in the picture, I am afraid of dying and leaving them without a mother, that is one of my biggest fears. But then again, I have to believe that if that is what happens that my God cares about my children, and will provide all their needs (and even I can't do that).
So, yes death scares me. I have not had to experience a lot of death in my life, but when I have they have all been believers, so I know that I will see them again some day.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Michael O. — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:01:57 -0000

Not to change the topic, but:
I actually had the opportunity to watch Randy's last lecture live. My professor last fall even had the honor of being a close friend of his, so we got to hear more about what this man had to contribute to the lives of his family, his students, and the technology world as a whole. Randy accomplished more in his few short years than most other people would be capable of in multiple lifetimes.
I would STRONGLY recommend watching the lecture in its entirety to all Ragamuffins. It will certainly give you a new perspective on the important things in life. Find more of Randy's videos here: http://download.srv.cs.cmu....

P.S. Los, you just earned some respect points in my book for posting about Randy Pausch. He is a hero of the computer science community.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Julia — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:20:11 -0000

My dad died of colon cancer when I was 22. His last months were awful for him. The moment he died, I was immediately relieved for him. No more pain/wasting away/fear etc.
I´m 27 now and I still mis him every day and my whole life feels different because he's gone. The only thing that comforts me is that he's with Jesus now, which I'm actually quite jealous of because I think there isn't anything better than that.
I just miss him so much. When I see other girls with their fathers... He was always proud of me, no matter what, always told me I was beautiful, etc. I will never get that back.

But I never think about my own death, hmm...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

Robin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:45:38 -0000

I'll be honest. it scares me. I know the bible says I shouldn't, but I am. Or maybe it's just the thought of not being here. But I remember what Perry said last week, when God doesn't have anything else for you to do, youll be dead. Keeps it in perspective. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » DEATH and YOU

bobby — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:21:53 -0000

Not afraid of the end game of death. Can genuinely say once I'm good things will be so much better.

But the idea of how I might die, of going through pain, and worse yet the idea of getting old and my body breaking down, that thought scares the crap out of me regularly. I just don't want to deal with the actual going through the process part.