One of my dear friends of 56 years passed away and Steve and I will attend her funeral this week. Easter Sunday was celebrated with the story of Jesus the Christ
rising from his death and letting the world know there is no death. I keep that in my heart because I do believe it is real and we all rise from a human death
to a new life, new journey, new experience. The memories of my dear friend Fran continue to flood my mind and heart as I gather photos of her and our past times
together. Endings are challenging for those still in this earth dimension who feel a sense of loss bereft and shattered when someone they love makes his or her
transition.

Memories are precious. It is important to reminisce and share stories about that person. Crying, anger, laughter are all part of the grieving process and need
to be expressed. At first it is hard to believe they have passed. Fran and I spoke just over a month ago and I knew she was going through health challenges.
I heard her voice, I heard her laughter. It is hard to believe she is gone from my sight.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
And that is dying..

by Henry Van Dyke

I stand strong in my faith that life goes on. God is now expressing as Fran in a new life form. Her journey is complete on earth and yet she is now on her next adventure in Spirit. As Chief Seattle says.
“There is no death, only a change of worlds.”