Life is a gift, living is no picnic, death enigmatic
So which is better? Depends on questing hearts
On positions and possessions, tangible and eternal.
Life is like a walk, each day like putting a leg out:
I can look back and see my footmarks on yesterday
I know where I stand today but tomorrow, I know not
Where my next step will land until I take it.

And so is life, like romance that must be guarded, guided;
A gala when the going is good -all sparkling and giggling
A bummer when you hit a downer and fears trigger tears;
Life travels, not in a straight line, it goes high and low
Here and there and everywhere. Some strain to restrain it
To where and how they want, life heeds only its own voice
Going where it pleases, when and how it chooses.

Hard have I tried to grasp it, steer it, rein it until
I learned: life is sore when all I seek is to drive it.
Sat on the fence but it dawned: the scared barely scratch
The surface of living. The hasty crash too soon. I resolved
Today, with open heart, to see life, embrace it, and live it
Like romance: yield without reserve, holding back nothing
Savor the sweetness, bear the aches, one day at a time.

I attended the funerals, first of the mum and one month later of the dad of one of my favorite bosses. Nothing but personal experiences of death has moved me that much. It is admirable to see couples so close: I’m drawn to such bonds because that is the environment in which I was raised. However now, I get frightened when I see such because awesome as it is while they are both alive, it sure has consequences if anything happens to one of them. That was what happened in this instance. When we attended the funeral of his mum, his dad sat next to her casket, chief mourner, receiving guests who came to celebrate the life of his best friend and wife. When I saw him, I wanted to go closer, hug him, say something that could draw a smile despite the deep ache and intense grief. As I learned how close they were, I feared.

Couple of weeks later, the gentleman was lying in state, in the same place we had congregated to pay our last respect to his wife. As I watched my boss and his sibling through the service, I was numb as the reality of life played through my sober heart. Truly, the challenges of life are countless. Oftentimes, they come in queues that dare our faith and capabilities, stirring questions, steering in conflicting directions. Sometimes, we get a breather as we go from one to the other, some others, the string of events take their hit on our faith and courage, one after the other, leaving us weak or floored. Yet, for the living, life must go on.

I wish life was all fun and no pain. Accept it or not, life is not a picnic where we sit out all day, chatting and eating and drinking to our heat’s desires. It can be so tough sometimes: so tough that one may wonder, “Why me and my family?” “Why now?” “How come?” Questions no answers will ever avail. Nevertheless, it is left to us, to choose what we make of the events that turn up, unrequested and often unwanted at our doors. The wise learn to take the good and the bad and make the most of each. May peace preserve our hearts as wisdom guides our steps on how to attend the numerous calls of life as they come at us. In the end, it’s really not about how and when these life events come calling, how you handled each is what will count.

Glory!