DEAD … is not dead!

“The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Alternatively, some sum it up as “the conservation of energy.” Ultimately, the First Law of Thermodynamics is a statement that energy can be transferred between the system and the surroundings through the transfer of heat (q) or by the performance of mechanical work (w). ΔE = q + w

Energy doesn’t simply materialize or disappear. Any gain in energy by the system will correspond to a loss in energy by the surroundings, or any loss in energy by the system will correspond to a gain in energy by the surroundings.”

I took a chemistry class in high school and again in college and loved both. Whereas many of my fellow students, particularly in high school, thought the subject matter was boring, I marveled at its’ elegance. I especially enjoyed balancing chemical equations. I loved the beautiful symmetry of this exercise!

“Matter can change form through physical and chemical changes, but through any of these changes, matter is conserved. The same amount of matter exists before and after the change—none is created or destroyed. This concept is called the Law of Conservation of Mass.”

These two laws of science perfectly explain the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly! So obvious yet sophisticated and ultimately perfect!

And doesn’t “Energy doesn’t simply materialize or disappear” remind you of the following verse?

I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 22:13

God, energy, The Divine, The Universe—whichever you prefer–has been, is and always will be.

Dead … is not DEAD!

The last three months have been very challenging health-wise for me. I thought I was making progress adjusting to the synthetic form of the levothyroxine hormone my body needs to continue to function, since my thyroid was removed due to cancer. Little did I know a perfect storm was brewing that would cause severe diarrhea, a urinary tract infection and acute hyperthyroid symptoms all at the same time.

I felt like sh**!

Have you ever been sick to that point where you wondered if you were ever going to get well again?

My hope was fading fast.

One night when I finally managed to drift off to sleep, my mother came to me. She has been away from earthly form for almost six years. She was standing in a hugely immense tunnel—it was not dark, but it was not wholly light—it was kind of like being in a tunnel of gigantic clouds. I ran to her and we embraced. She held me tight as I wept in her arms. No words were spoken, just the knowing of love and hope shared when I most needed it. I woke up crying.

Some of you may find that hard to believe. You may think, “oh that was just a dream.”

My mother was as alive to me then, in that moment, as she was when she was here in form.

Dead … is NOT dead!

Sunday morning, I went for a walk as I always do with my four-legged cohort, precious Polly, and instead of reveling in the quiet of the dawn, I wanted to yell at the top of my lungs HAPPY EASTER! I did not shout out loud, but my heart and soul were fervently cheering, HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY EASTER, HAPPY EASTER! I did start humming and quietly singing one of my most favorite hymns …

Low in the grave He lay
Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day
Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign
He arose! (He arose)
He arose! (He arose)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Robert Lowry

Our response in grief to a person’s death, depending upon who the person was and our relationship with him or her, can sometimes leave one feeling angry and bitter.  This is not a good place to be because one can end up believing the illusion that dead is dead.

This earthly shell that I currently inhabit will fade, will dissolve, will die, but I will not because …

DEAD … is NOT … DEAD!

There is only transition and transformation.

I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

Or perhaps this …

“I’m not afraid of death because I don’t believe in it. It’s just getting out of one car, and into another.” John Lennon