What If This Is It?

Last month, I joined my family in attending a memorial service for my parents, both of whom died last year. More precisely, we attended memorial services: one for the public, and a more intimate one for just the family. The family service consisted of walking in the rain up a small hill to a memory garden; there my nephew placed the urn with my parents' ashes in a small hole, and we proceeded to cover it with earth.

As I stared at the urn with the dirt on top, a thought struck me with full force. This is it. No matter what we do, where we go, we all end up here.

Over the years, I've come to believe that a deep acceptance of death--our own death--is a game-changer in life. The resurrection, the reality of life beyond the grave, makes that all the more true. If our ultimate destiny is union with God, nothing can rob us of our freedom in this life. In any given situation, what's the worst that can happen? We'll die and go to God! Big deal! It allows us not to worry about status or success, but simply to hear and do the will of God, regardless of the consequences.

But this thought was different. Even if we end here--if somehow God created the cosmos so there is no resurrection--it is enough. Enough, that is, to follow God throughout this earthly life, with no thought of reward. The relationship itself, the chance to pour oneself out in doing good: these are reward enough.