From a bird’s eye view, the scenario was very much established, keeping in mind that it wasn’t the first time, and definitely wouldn’t be the last; it was nothing out of the ordinary. Despite what you and I might have been feeling at that precise moment, the realm above us was accustomed to this procedure, and the decorum of its surroundings.
They looked down to where the lifeless being was. ‘Lifeless’, I chuckle at the irony of such a word. Was he not just full of life a few days ago? Walking as if he’ll live for years, engrossed in business affairs, the success of his family, accounting carefully for his wealth, and children, and so much more. Ah, but snatched from him in a split second, reminding him that what he lived off of, the soul that kept him going, was not his to keep anyway. What would have been of more concern is if it was being returned to its Maker the way it had been given as a loan in the first place, sixty odd years ago, or at least in a better condition.
For them, above, it was standard procedure, to follow the instructions handed to them by their Master. The most feared of them all, one we hoped would not knock on our door too soon, was simply a mediator between Master and Slave, taking from the slave that which belonged to the Master, when he ordered for it to be returned. Wherein laid the difficulty? Maybe in the thought that the Master’s belonging was our asset, our essence of life, a belonging we would be nothing without! Yet it had been quite far from our mind while we briefly cared for it that it was never ours in the first place; it was just a temporary keep.
The awaited questioning by two others was also simple policy; policy we had and continue to be forewarned about.
And for the lifeless being? It was another soul accepting the invitation from his Lord, returning back to Him who sent him into this world, addressing His Threshold, as every being knows that he, too, one day will.
But from where I stand, the scenario is nothing short of chaotic, far from ordinary and acceptable. Tears well up for those near and dear, it’s a feeling with no pinpointed explanation. He was, and now he no longer is; it’s as simple as that. But these people are worldly attachments. There’s a strong bond between father and son, husband and wife, brothers; a bond that was severely cut with no warning, leaving each entity to choke up in tears just at the thought that their loved one was no more.
I find my mind wandering and asking questions that I wince at the thought of. How different would the scenario be if I was lying there? Walking and talking one minute, and lifeless the next?
Despite repetitive warning, that every soul shall taste death, I still seem quite unprepared for it. Selfish of my life, I want to live to see many dreams, and find myself justifying that ‘I’m too young’, and ‘I have years ahead of me’. But even if those were plausible excuses, I’m still here for a purpose, and it isn’t all fun and play.
This insensate being, only in my sight in the form of body for a few more hours at the most, is a sign for me; a perceptible reminder that I’m in transition too.
How I choose to live as a result of that reminder, is entirely up to me.