Light

North Bramalea United Church, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.


     Death is not extinguishing the light,
     it is only putting out the lamp
     because dawn has come.

        Rabindranath Tagore

In Memory of Jack Layton [July 18, 1950 – August 22, 2011]

RC1_9250, a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.

“We deeply regret to inform you that the Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday August 22. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones.”

Olivia Chow, wife and a fellow NDP MP

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.

To serve the call of courage and love

Until we see your beautiful face again

In that land where there is no more separation,

Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,

And where we will never lose you again.

John O'Donohue, On the Death of the Beloved

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Bearing Witness

RIC_1706 a photo by rchoephoto on Flickr.

Once we know, what do we do? ...

... May be the only hope is that our humanity might kick into a higher gear, that the more we admit to seeing, the more we will beleive we are not that different from each other.

Kim Echlin, The Disappeared

Death

RIC_0561
Originally uploaded by rchoephoto

A funeral or memorial ceremony gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own values. What is important to us?
At times of death, we ask questions, including where our lives fit into the overall picture. Death strips us, at least for a while, of all the extraneous in our lives.

Bill Phipps, Moderator, The United Church of Canada

Death

RCC_8167
Originally uploaded by rchoephoto

Do not seek death. Death will find you. But seek the road which makes death a fulfillment.

Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings