At this time, many of us are coming out of a state of mourning.
Whether we truly feel heartbroken, as must be those closest to our late Queen, or whether we just feel sad that the stalwart and dedicated soul that she was is no longer with us, we have been in a state of mourning.
The late Queen made clear, on many occasions during her life, that she was a true Christian believer.
Christians believe, as do many religions,. that this earthly life is not the end of our existence; there is a Heaven.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be troubled, there are many dwelling places….I go to prepare a place for you”.
Even when dying a horrifying, tortured death, he assured the robber suffering the same awful fate that “today you will be with me in Paradise”.
With todays modern medicine, we can be brought back to life from situations and sicknesses our ancestors could never have survived.
It is amazing and heartwarming to hear from people who have clinically died and been resuscitated, as was a Friend I knew. She says she went to a place of overwhelming, unconditional love.
She did not want to come back, but was told she must return. We were happy she did.
When I was holding the hand of my dying Father-in-Law, I, and the other members of his family, saw his soul drawn upward and leave his body. When I held my husband close and said “goodbye, for a while’, I physically felt his spirit move on.
We have to mourn, it is in our nature to do so. But lets be assured that there really is more than just this earthly life.
Let’s do a bit of rejoicing as well.
Paula Seddon is a member of Wokingham Quakers, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
