With each death all that knowledge dies… What was the point of all that?

Picture: Life continues within

Thought for the week- There was an interview on Irish radio, RTE1, where the interviewer, Marian Finucane, was talking to the writer, Nuala Ó Faoláin, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The topic of the conversation was Nuala's attitude and approach to the advent of her death. She doesn't believe in God nor in an afterlife and is determined to maintain that belief. It was a moving conversation which left me feeling helpless in finding any hope or solace in any words I could offer.

All I can say is I hope she will be pleasantly surprised when does leave. Most people see a bright light after they die. If they go towards the light they will be guided to the proper place where they will be greeted by their friends and family who have already gone before them.

Nuala spoke of the darkness, the lack of joy and how the absence of beauty has taken hold of her life since she has become aware of her coming death. She spoke of all the things she knows, her time working in Iran, all her loves. “It seems such a waste of creation. With each death all that knowledge dies… What was the point of all that.”

Nuala is a victim of the lack of spiritual insight and knowledge offered to people living and educated in Ireland in the 2oth Century. Our upbringing was mainly by Christian educators who do not consider reincarnation and put forward the theory that we only live one life. She is right in thinking that going through life and gaining all the experiences and wisdom along the way would be waste, if it was all lost at the end of a life. If you consider reincarnation and the fact that we live many lives you can see that we are building our knowledge and wisdom as we go through our many lives. This concept of bringing skills and experience into other lives is evident all around us. I’m sure you know people who had a ‘natural ability’ with music or animals or maths or leading people. These skills were gained in previous lives and that soul is just using knowledge learned in another lifetime.

At one point while talking about pain she says “Thanks be to Holy God this is the 21st Century and the idea of patient choice has come in.” Again she says “Thanks be to God…my heart responded to music.” I’m not sure if this just part of her language and a habit she has held on to since she was younger but it does give a hint that she may have a small glimmer of belief in the God that she habitually thanks.

Marian asked about the things she likes to do still. “I like food… and sleep.” Many who are dying of illness will spend a lot of time sleeping. The closer to their time of death the more time will be spent sleeping. This sleeping time is spent exploring the inner worlds where they will be taking up residence shortly. They are preparing their way, establishing themselves in their new home.

While Nuala is despondent at the close of her life there is the chance that she will find God in the beauty of the things she enjoys in this world and if not here hopefully while sleeping she discovers her new home in the life she is about to begin.

The interview is available as a podcast here and for more information about Marian Finucan click here