Good Day My friends.
I wanted to talk to you briefly today about something we encounter everyday, but often let pass us by. It was inspired by a conversation I had this week.
Death, or returning to the Force.
I used to work in medicine and saw this often enough that I became numb at times to it. I often talked with a few co-workers and friends about this, as you can imagine.
Being that we try to be available in many ways for those we encounter in the world; we should be prepared for this, as it is an eventuality of life.
When people return to the Force, they do not truly leave us. Their memories live in us after their body dies, the experiences, the feelings and what they mean to those around them is evident in our living memory.
I do not need to lecture you all on doctrine, as this is known to us.
I do want to touch on the side that is something, in my opinion, we miss. Supporting those who remain. This includes ourselves. Regardless of people’s beliefs, loss is difficult, it can be difficult, it can be hidden and most of all. It can be ignored.
Support for this comes in many ways. Often, it is the simple supportive comfort of presence. Of sitting in the emotion and situation with another. There is a saying: a burden shared, is a burden lessened.
Our way is to rejoice that they will live forever in the Force. However, experiencing this myself since becoming a Jedi, it is not an instant thing. It takes time for us to grieve, to get to the point where the sadness at the hole in our lives to be accustomed to.
We are not all clergy, nor are we all professional grief counselors. We do have the option to be friends, to be open and vulnerable to those in pain around us.
Keep this in mind when you see the pain of loss on those around you and in yourself.
Remember that you have people here in the Temple. Whether it be clergy or members that you know and trust. Exposing that pain can be hard, and at times frightening. Be not afraid. As it is natural to feel discombobulated after loss.
Stay aware of yourselves and keep an eye out as you move through this life to those in pain around you. The Force connects us all, in this life and after.
May the Force be with you all, always and forever.
