A PARTING WITH REMORSE

(C) 2009 Howard McQueen

A friend called me last night,
drowning in her mix of sadness and remorse.

An eighty three year old dear friend
of her now departed mom had died this afternoon
in her bed in the assisted living home.

My friend had been a devoted visitor and friend to this lady just passed.
My friend chose the path of biting her tongue
in the face of the chafing cynicism and wit
this now passed woman had nursed along.

The evening before, she had visited her friend,
and felt compelled to speak her peace on a topic.
Late, in the pre-dawn of day of passing,
her friend's email contained a wobble-of-imbalance,
a resistance to accepting another's truth.

Then, all signals were lost.

Her daughter found her passed that afternoon.

My friend would wish everyone blessed to find freedom from the sadness and grief that comes with living in this earth school.

... ... ...

As I sit with this, and having known the now deceased, I feel that we can all served by knowing when to speak truth when it it contained and carried in love. It can fill the sails of those departing for re-birth, allowing each and every one of us the opportunity to step out of our deeply worn grooves and ruts.

This then, is my work-in-process blessing:
We live in this earthly realm, this interface of light and darkness. It is in friendship and camaraderie and willingness to explore and uncover the sometimes raw truth that life shares with us, that we may perhaps find liberation, and if not that, at least a resting in solace - with the trouble and turbulence we identify within our experiences. - HM