From time to time I contemplate my own mortality and the inescapable fact that one day my life here will come to an end and I wonder what that will be like.
I include a youtube clip from “Watership Down” when Lord Frith comes for Hazel.
Warning – Hankies at the ready, well it always makes me cry. It is however an example of a good death in the fullness of years, even though it is from a story about rabbits.
The clip I had used was withdrawn for copyright reasons so I’ve had to use this one, breeze on to 3 minutes 22 seconds for the ending.
Of course I can’t choose the nature of my own death. It may come suddenly and without warning. It may be through accident or disease. I may or may not be conscious.
I pray that I will be ready and recognise the Lord or his angel when he comes, if in the manner of Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius”. Oblique reference Jude: vs 9
The Lord Jesus may come back before this and then all of us will be taken up as it says in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18. What a day that would be!!!
Some Notes on this clip from “Watership Down” as an allegory
- Hazel recognises his Lord when he comes for him, not at first but then with delight, reverence and awe.
- Hazel is ready to go but casts a look around at his children and dependents. That is those he will leave behind.
- Hazel is assured that they will be alright.
- Hazel lays down and dies, his soul/spirit leaves his body and rejoices in the company of his Lord.
- In addition to these observations there looks like there is a sermon in there about persecution.
Here’s another link about Cardinal John Henry Newman’s poem “The Dream of Gerontius.
Oh dear, it’s a bit complicated. I think I prefer the rabbits.
P.S. I have done other posts about purgatory and they are much simpler.