Friday 3 February 2012

DEATHS AND GOODBYES

by Earlie Doriman
Mark, may you rest in Peace 
There is no truth in this world so absolute than death. I used to include a trifling discussion about this in my Physics class when I taught the Theory of Relativity some years back. I would eventually convince my students that death is an absolute fact and there is no way to fake it even the mightiest of science. Death is science itself. While everything else has colour of uncertainty, we are so prompted that we will all die, sooner or later. At what point death conquers the physical body? Obviously, it is when all the vital organs stop to function, and the supply of oxygen is no longer adequate to sustain the basic human cell? The complexity of death is one thing that even the most powerful technology of these times would fail to prevent.





Putting aside the aspect of science, there is no tougher than the feeling of loss and bereavement when a member of your family departs from this world especially when you know that there is more to live for. But I guess we all live to die in the end and sometimes dying comes at the most hasty and unexpected circumstances. While some deaths come naturally with age and disease, others are awful and deeply hurting like what happened to my brother-in-law Mark.
My family is in deep sorrow as one member of our family passed away some weeks ago. So sudden. So unanticipated. So painful. Mark suffered cardiac arrest, his first and his last, and the news of his death was so terrible that it took me a while to believe that it happened. The long distance call that I immediately made to my sister in Hongkong confirmed everything and we just sobbed as we were both out of words for a conversation. This was one of those times that I wished I was only in the middle of a dreadful dream. How could it happen so suddenly. I could not scrabble the best words to console my sister for she was totally devastated and thousands of miles away. Mark was gone and she could not accept it, just not yet. I made calls to the Philippines to inform my younger brother about the terrible news and I knew everyone was in complete disbelief.
Mark was a very humble and thoughtful brother and his life was more than a blessing to us, to his family, and to his friends. He was a very loving and caring husband to my sister. He was both wit and humour and his presence is life to each person. And everyone who knows him has all the nicest things to say in the world. His life has touched many lives and now that he’s in God’s care, his memories continue to live on in the lives of those who he becomes special. We surely could not bring his life back but we can always bring the difference he made to our lives.
Mark’s death might be painful to us who are left behind but God reassures through his promise that there is life without end in his kingdom and we just have to believe that He welcomes him already in heaven. We look upon life as a gift from God and we do nothing to earn it. It is given with unconditional love. As well, we shall look death as a gift of renewal to live an everlasting life.
Thank you very much Mark for the life you shared and the gift of a brilliant person that you will always be to all of us. We know that you will continue to look after your wife and family. May you rest peacefully in heaven. 



















27 comments:

  1. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May your sister find comfort in this hour of grief. Heart failure does strike like a thief in the night.

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  2. I am so sorry for your loss. I have also lost 4 family members over the last 5 years and I know that no words of comfort can bring the departed back to us. I just wish you the best.

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  3. oh no :( My condolences. prayers for you and your family during this trying time.

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  4. I don't think anyone can survive a cardiac arrest... most people that I know died from it... cardiac arrest is like your heart stopping for good... sorry for you family's loss :(

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  5. Death comes at unexpected time. As such, no one can prepare for it but he should always be ready to face his Creator by living life according to His will. Condolence to the family of the departed.

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  6. I am sorry for the loss. May God give you, your sister and your entire family comfort in these times of bereavement.

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  7. Sad story.. I'm sorry for your loss. But I'm sure Mark is in a better place now. True, a death of a loved one is always painful.. and though we should not forget his death, we should also celebrate and remember his LIFE, too.

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  8. Death is a reality that is hardest to accept. It is expected but not easy to deal with. With this, may God confort you and your family circle.
    ----
    Regards,
    Edmar

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  9. sorry for the loss
    continue living life to the fullest, be inspired by the momories

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  10. my deepest sympathy to your sister and your family, they're a lovely couple, i can feel how much your sister is grieving

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  11. condolence to your family...

    we all know that death is inevitable but still we hoped our love ones will lived a little longer...

    i am recalling the theory of relativity now (as u mentioned)...

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  12. I am so sorry for your loss. Life is really temporary, with just a few second things can turn differently, our life can be taken back. Everyday is really a blessing. So we should always make sure to live our life to the fullest and spend time with family and friends and Do things worthwhile..

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  13. condolence...
    he seems like he lived a good life! may he rest in peace!

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  14. I am so sorry, condolence, yup it's unbelievable and it was really sudden

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  15. My condolences Earl. I'm sure Mark would be happy wherever he is especially if you continue to live a fruitful life =)

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  16. My condolences. I know that there's no easy way to overcome a loss but to patiently wait for the wounds to heal. I just want to think that good people deserves the heaven and not this cruel world we live in. The goodbyes are temporary. We will all meet each other soon in heaven. God bless your sister. May she continue to be strong for her family.

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  17. Sorry to hear about the untimely death of your brother-in-law Mark. The Bible says: "In Adam, all men die. In Christ, all men live." Mark is already in the care of our Heavenly Father. I'm extending my condolences to your sister and to the rest of Mark's bereaved family.

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  18. my condolences dear.. god bless you. xx

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  19. This is a very sad story. But we'll all get there in His time. I'm sure he is happy with the Creator now. Condolences to the family.

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  20. My dad died the same situation. At least he was given 69 years to live. That's life love. We can't believe it. My day who is 69 but looks 40's he is physically fit. "Parang Rico Yan ang drama" Natulog lang pero ang labas ng autopsy cardiac arrest. Exactly the same with my mother's brother. Let us pray for his soul. Have a blessful Sunday.

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  21. My condolonces to your family.Death comes like a thief in the night.We never know who go girst.I hope htta your sister is doing good now from her husbands unexpected death.

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  22. condolence to your family. Though we are apart from our love ones physically, in our hearts and mind, they still live and they are always there, guiding us. Like angels

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  23. condolences po. When I loss my dad on 2004 and my mum on 2009, i find meaning to my role as a son and a family. I may have loss them but not entirely now as they are with me, abiding me all through out my journeys, in spirit.

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  24. Death is ultimately something that we will face eventually, we know it but we still fail to prepare ourselves to its inevitability.

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  25. I'm sorry to hear about the sad news. Death is never easy. We all expect it at one point, but it seems that Mark's death is too sudden.

    Condolences to your family.

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  26. Hi Earlie,

    Though the following thoughts might not remove right away the pain and sadness we feel when we loss a loved one in death, may it eventually bring comfort and hope to you gradually, as it did to many people around the world who also lost their loved ones:

    1) Death is caused by our inherited sin from the first human couple, and not by God (Romans 5:12)

    2) Death is an enemy, and God will never use it to test us (1 Corinthians 15:26; James 1:13)

    3) In fact, God has purposed to remove this enemy (death) in the very near future (Revelation 21:4; 1 Cor. 15:26)

    There are many more accurate knowledge of truths that the Maker of LIfe had made it written in the Scriptures for Him to comfort us and have a real understanding of why death falls upon all of us.

    Sincerely,

    Sean

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