On Life 203 – Words of a Departed Person – January 12, 2018

   Life, that mystery that spilled many; some talked about it as a journey that will end one day, and some saw it as a road that connects earth with heaven. Some did not find it meaningful, and some found it a message; while others decided to live it for only themselves! Others found their happiness to live and extend a helping hand to please others. Today, however, I will clarify the meaning of life according to a person who realized she will soon be gone and leave life, while she was still making her first steps in life: she is 27 years old and has cancer. Holly Butcher wrote on her Facebook account a message titled, “Bit of life advice” one day before she dies. Allow me to clarify some of the ideas of a person who was going to depart from this life, a person who offered us concepts that are unrealized by so many people. Those words are said by someone who will leave life.

   Holly says, “That’s the thing about life; It is fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right.”

   Indeed life is not a given right, but rather every day of our lives is a gift from God, glory be to His name, therefore everyday one lives is so much precious and need not to be wasted on pain, misery, nonsense or getting so busy destructing people’s lives. One should live happily and offer all what they can to make others happy as you never know what tomorrow is to bring you.

   Holly adds, “I just want people to stop worrying so much about the small, meaningless stresses in life and try to remember that we all have the same fate after it all, so do what you can to make your time feel worthy and great, minus the nonsense… Just think about someone who is really facing a problem. Be grateful for your minor issue and get over it. It’s okay to acknowledge that something is annoying; but try not to carry on about it and negatively affect other people’s days.” We have to stop worrying about life. We should have complete faith in God’s love and mercy and that all His deeds are good; even if it appeared otherwise. God only is able to turn all the matters to the great good. We should only trust and when we do, we can fulfill our mission and our role that we originally were created for, make the others happy and may be this role extends to include the happiness of all humanity. Do not concentrate on problems as they will hide the beam of hope from you. When you meet obstacles, you should trust God and work to overcome them. I recall the words of H.H Late Pope Shenouda III, “Let God be between you and the distress thus the distress will vanish and the loving God will remain” and also when he said, “I do not trust life’s circumstances; but I always trust God’s mercies”

To be continued….

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center