Posted on 02/09/2014 5:10:03 PM PST by libstripper
I have told Mr. Mercat that I want to die first because I don’t know how to put oil in my car. I think I have the gasoline part figured out. We love each other a lot but he’ll be fine without me. He knows how to work the microwave.
RIP to both.
Still, it is very hard not to deeply saddened by this...
There's an old Chinese story that comes to mind... a new Emperor rose to power, and his advisors knew of a holy man nearby. So they called the holy man to court, to give a blessing to the Emperor. The holy man stood before the Emperor and said, "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies."
The court was aghast, and the Emperor was fighting back rage as he asked the holy man to explain himself - immediately. The holy man calmly replied, "there are many misfortunes in life. Danger is around every corner, illness, treachery, war, accident, all provide ample opportunities for death. It is only the most fortunate, the most blessed, who are able to experience the proper order in life, the natural procession that is ordained from the protection of heaven. In that order, the father dies before the son, and the son dies before the grandson, and the lineage is kept intact and helathy and whole. To believe death can be avoided is ignorance - true blessing come in beling able to live full lives without tragedy."
Will and Ariel Durant were married for 68 years and died within two weeks of each other (she died Oct. 25, 1981, and he died on Nov. 7, 1981).
Oh, my word, you two must have such fun bantering.
I want to bless you for your comment. God loves us, and has shown us in so many ways, taking care of our dogs, in the event... it is the right thing to do.
I know a couple in their seventies. About ten years ago when someone asked her if she went first would she be bothered if her husband, a vibrant fellow, got remarried.
She said no, she wouldn’t want him to get remarried if she passed away.
Her friend asked, “Well why don’t you want him to get remarried, don’t you want him to be happy?”
Her reply was to snap, “He’s had ‘Happy’!!”
So a oft repeated line in our family is now, “He’s had Happy.” to signify what our different married lives are like.
There is really a great deal of wisdom in this.
And, as the holy man in the proverb noted, death (for us all) is inevitable.
It is just that it is also an occasion for sadness.
Of course you are right. And you remind me of another story... : )
A child died in a village, and the local zen master was asked to preside over the funeral. As he did so, his students noticed that tears were pouring down his face. Afterwards, they questioned him. "Haven't you taught us that this world is like a passing cloud, and that true wisdom is not to be attached to either pleasure or pain?
The zen master said, "Yes, that is absolutely true."
The students replied, "Then why were you crying?"
The zen master said, "How can a sane person not cry at a child's funeral?"
A child died in a village, and the local zen master was asked to preside over the funeral. As he did so, his students noticed that tears were pouring down his face. Afterwards, they questioned him. "Haven't you taught us that this world is like a passing cloud, and that true wisdom is not to be attached to either pleasure or pain?
The zen master said, "Yes, that is absolutely true."
The students replied, "Then why were you crying?"
The zen master said, "How can a sane person not cry at a child's funeral?"
Thanks for the story. It was filled with a great deal of wisdom.
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