doing all things well
Have you considered the time of life when you face death? In America, we tend to deny that we will die. Deny that we will not live forever, but the truth is it is appointed unto man to die. No one is exempt and we will all face the transition into the next place (whatever that looks like) and we will be gone from this dimension, this time shall pass and so shall we.
I have always known that, I spent time growing up around death and a lot of funerals as my dad was a pastor and my family sang, but I still remember when I read Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and did the exercise of going forward to my death and looking back – what would I want my life to be about? What would I want to be able to say and hear from others about my life? That exercise helped me in so many ways and I have continued to do it at least once a year – it keeps me growing and also helps me let go of things that I do not want to have in my life if I die tomorrow.
As I read books about The Art of Dying and The art of Being a Healing Presence I realize how important it is to live with the reality of death. Not wishing death, but aware of death. Taking care of the business of my call to live today in the best possible way. I believe the way to die well is to live well.
The colors blend
I think about
life
and
death
the importance of doing both well
how does it happen?
how do we live and die with grace?
the longer I live I am more and more convinced
It centers around our
thoughts
which lead us to
choices
our choices are all important
to both our living
and our dying
if I want to die with grace
I must live with grace
to live with grace
I must choose my thoughts wisely
I must listen to the wisdom which tells me,
Guard your heart, child, for everything you do flows from your heart.
AL 6/26/13
life: acoustic & amplified 
Life is a wonderful and finite gift. Life is a window where we can see, where we make choices, where our only real freedom is how we respond to what happens to us. Life is doing things, taking chances, communicating, and loving as much as we can and in as many ways as we can. That is a life well lived. There is no other measure. There is no such thing as dying gracefully. When we die the window of life closes. The concepts of “well” and “graceful” do not apply to death. It would seem to me that when we die we go back to where we came from in the first place. With death the gift to make mistakes, to try again, to love even when we don’t understand, to love even when we have been wronged and hurt… With death the gift to do all these worldly and human things is withdrawn. So always and forever fight to live and to give, to love and contribute, to make mistakes, and to beg forgiveness. Balance life each day as if life is forever, and this is your last day. Love yourself and others as best as you can.