*** The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread *** August 10th-12th 2007-Death and how it affect singles

10th August 2007 | Snugs

[snugs]

This weekend's topic may seem morbid and maybe not the topic for a summer weekend but we did touch this subject slightly last week.

Death has an impact on all our lives whether we are single or not however it can be more poignant to those who are on their own as they do not have the backup of a spouse to ease the pain and sense of loss. It can also make us feel even more alone and desperate for a partner if the death is that of a parent.

Do you fear death either your own or a close friend or family member?

Does death impact how you lead your life ?

If you though you only had a short time to live how would that affect you in various aspects of your life and would you be honest about it when meeting someone new.

What are your thoughts about an after life?

Do you think that death is an acceptable subject for a social discussion or is it on your ban list?

Do you feel awkward and not know how to deal with someone if they advise that they have a life threatening disease or even more so if they have been told they do not have long to live?

The above is only intended as opener to the subject please feel free to discuss any topic relating to the above or anything that you wish to this subject is only designed to get the discussion moving this weekend but does not mean it limits us to this subject.

[WFTR]

Or possibly Evidence that Demands a Virdict by Josh McDowell.

I read that one years ago. I think they eventually published two volumes, and I may still have both volumes around here somewhere. Again, I don't really doubt the Gospel. I was just never able to make Christianity work for me.

Bill

[snugs]

Hi Bill bit quiet here tonight - hopefully most people are out having fun - think I am going to turn in now - see you all tomorrow.

[WFTR]

Bob,

The problem isn't that I need to come to an understanding with anyone at work. The problem is that company policy is such that they have to be very careful about how they would handle the situation. I'm sure that they would check in one way or another after a day or two, but I'd have to be careful not to put them in a bad situation with the company if the details ever became public.

As far as neighbors go, I'm just not close to my neighbors and really don't have any personal friends who would be in a position to do this. I have a pet sitter who has a key to my house, but she wouldn't come without specific authorization. I don't have anyone who regularly visits or with whom I regularly spend time.

The idea of a "go bag" is a good one. I can't think of much that I'd add to it. I don't have a living will, and I'd probably be just as happy letting my parents make the decisions once they'd been called if I were unable to make decisions. Once they are gone, I'd have to look into a living will.

Eventually, I need to write detailed instructions for care of all of my animals. When I do, I may have them printed and laminated. I'd probably leave those instructions by each animal's cage.

Bill

[WFTR]

I’d like to see the other planets.

There is some indication that this world will survive, having been purged of all evil and disease. Think what it would be like to explore the ocean depths with an immortal body! To fly above the forests, to visit hidden mountain locations with quiet ponds or roaring waterfalls. Imagine the most dangerous of beasts coming up to you like a pet and rubbing against your shoulder like an affectionate cat.

What constrains us to earth, anyway? Why not sail the edge of the galaxy? I tend not to believe God put all those planets and galaxies out there just to fill up space.

Can you imagine new colors? Can you imagine new feelings? Can you imagine the most beautiful and spectacular music that you've ever heard - a soundtrack of joyous, cascading melodies serenading you?

It's interesting that even though the two of you seem to have very different religious beliefs, you've both imagined a "heaven" that includes space travel and other exploration. That's a wonderful vision, but I'm not sure that I see a basis for believing in that vision. I read the Bible from cover to cover about seven or eight times in my teen and young adult years, and I've read the entire New Testament about fifteen times. I don't recall anything that describes heaven in enough detail to support these very nice thoughts. I'm not saying that you are wrong. I just don't have evidence to believe that idea.

Certainly, the idea of a refreshed Earth and accessible heaven is nice. That idea would come closer to supporting the type of experience that I would call heavenly. I could sit on a mountain enjoying the view and not be bothered. I could rest. That would be nice.

Bill

[WFTR]

Happy Birthday!!!

[WFTR]

Yep, it's been a quiet night. I think many of us who have been following the presidential campaign have been following the events at the Iowa straw poll. For some, I guess the night is a night of celebration. For others like me, it's not such a good night.

I hope you're having a good night's sleep. I'll chat with you tomorrow.

Bill

[radiohead]

I read the Bible

I don't assume the Bible is the last word on everything in life or death. It says some things about some things, but for me, it is only interesting reading. To dismiss something because it isn't in the Bible isn't logical to me.

[A knight without armor]

I have always wanted to see the super future. Like the year 200,007 for instance.

[peek-a-beau]

Thanks, snugs. I’m sure you’ll remember that Hogmanay was canceled this year due to the stormy winds, but somehow the fireworks managed to go off! I had a wonderful time while over there, even IF I was pushed around by the winds while walking back to the B&B from the Castle.

Your pictures taken today are as lovely as the view I enjoyed of the California coast while driving back home from Monterey, CA. It was a bit too long for my liking, however, as the drive to Monterey from Fresno (in Central California) took about 3 hours, and the return trip was twice as long, meaning I spent 9 hours on the road today, and my tuckus is tired!

[snugs]

I like the fact that I can just walk up the road and see the sheep it gives me the illusion that I am in the country not in the middle of a town.

If you look carefully on one of the photos on the skyline you can just see the road that I have to cross to get to ASDA. There were a couple more fields up until about a year ago and then they built a row of shops but at least that does mean I am in walking distance of one of the major consumer electrical chains in the UK. Before it was about 3 miles away and not driving it was difficult to get to as you had to change buses and the buss to that industrial estate only ran every 2 hours.

Curry's is the electrical store I mentioned.

[JamesP81]

Do you fear death either your own or a close friend or family member?

I suppose everyone does on some level, myself included. However, I just make sure that I have no regrets or unfinished business with folks I'm close to.

Does death impact how you lead your life ?

Yes. Like I said above, you don't want to have any regrets or unfinished business.

If you though you only had a short time to live how would that affect you in various aspects of your life and would you be honest about it when meeting someone new.

I think I would definitely be honest about that. It wouldn't be fair to drop dead on someone who had every reason to believe you were still going to be around for a long time to come.

What are your thoughts about an after life?

My soul belongs to God and is in the capable hands of Jesus Christ until the day that I make my last journey.

Do you think that death is an acceptable subject for a social discussion or is it on your ban list?

I do think it's fine. But, then again, I've always been strange in a lot of ways...

Do you feel awkward and not know how to deal with someone if they advise that they have a life threatening disease or even more so if they have been told they do not have long to live?

Not especially. People in these situations tend to need the companionship of their fellows, which I'm happy to give.

We are all afraid of dying on some level, and that's natural, but I don't lose sleep over it. Ultimately, we're all dead men. No one is getting off this rock alive. We have no choice in the matter. There are two things that matter: how we live the life we have, and how we face death when it's our turn.

My grandpa, who I was close to, passed away last December. Of course I'd love to have him back, but he was also a Christian, so I have no worries about his immortal soul.

As for dealing with it, I have always lead a fairly solitary life. I'm accustomed to dealing with things on my own, in my own way, and in my own due time.

[WFTR]

I don't assume the Bible is the last word on everything in life or death. It says some things about some things, but for me, it is only interesting reading. To dismiss something because it isn't in the Bible isn't logical to me.

An old saying is "if you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have? Five? No, it's four because calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg." The tricky thing about logic is that everything is based on premises. If the premises are wrong, such as calling a tail a leg, the conclusions will also be wrong. The tightest logic in the world will point to the wrong answer if one of the facts on which the logical process is based isn't really a fact.

I'm not really dismissing anything, but when it comes to evaluating heaven, I see the Bible as a source of information. How that information is interpreted can be the subject of endless discussion and debate. Do I assume that those people were just "making it up" and that I could just make up something equally as valid? If I make that assumption, then I have no basis for believing anything. I know what does and doesn't appeal to me, but because plenty of things in this life don't appeal to me, I tend to assume that if a next life exists, plenty of things there might also be unappealing. The problem remains the basic lack of information about "the other side."

Bill

[snugs]

A few more thoughts to mull on tonight.

What is your thoughts about Heaven?

Do you think of it as a place ?

Who will be there?

As some of us are relatively young so death to many may seem remote even if we have had experience with relatives or even friends passing on. Maybe you have had a near death experience if so what happened and what mark if any has it left on you?

A thought also to take away from this weekend's thread is that however young we are death can suddenly come so we should always let our friends and family know what we think of them and appreciate the things they have done for us.

This is summed up in a song that DaveLoneRanger sent me the link for by Garth Brooks, "If Tomorrow Never Comes." audio version.

video clip

[DancesWithCats]

Well Happy GoshDarn Birthday, Sir RockinRight!!! Hope it was wonderful!

[DancesWithCats]

When I lived in England, one of my favorite pastimes was visiting with the sheep and feeding them tomato sammiches. LOL Such fun. So beautiful. So serene.

[A knight without armor]

Ever since I was a little kid for some reason I always knew death was for everyone no matter what their age. Gosh only knows what put that in me but that is how I have always felt. Perhaps because I would go with my mother to the cemetery to water flowers and I would see all sorts of dates on the headstones. For example the cemetery had a Baby Land. If that does not teach death is no respecter of age I do not know what would.

[snugs]

How are you doing I was a little concerned when you did not check in last night.

[snugs]

I think that is a very healthy thing to do to show young children that death is not remote and far removed from them that it can affect them. So often nowadays it is kept away from the children which makes it even harder when a loved one or a pet does die.

[DancesWithCats]

Hello Snugs! Oh just very tired and weak. But I haven't coded yet! LOL My sister's a nurse and she doesn't see the humor. LOL She's been calling and checking on me, but I'm fine. Just feel very run down as if I'd run the marathon. I get up in the morning with a pain in the left side of my head, but after breakfast it goes away. Just resting, resting, resting. This whole crisis is coming at a bad time LOL par for the course. We've got NINE kitchen cabinets being delivered this week from Lowe's and installers coming on the 6th of Sept. My daughter and her friend came over today to help mom clear out all the old kitchen cabinets and box everything up. She's a good'un. Tomorrow morning I'll call and see when they want me for the Type & Cross (what's your blood type is what that is) and then Tuesday is the blood transfusion and IV iron drip. Joy. s/

thanks so much for asking!