Death Makes Life Clear

By on February 16, 2009 in Healthy Living, Spirituality, Work & Life

Originally posted for The Huffington Post

 

I just returned to Boston from New York City where I officiated a memorial service for a precious woman who, in my less-than-humble opinion, died too young. She was 39; she left behind an adored husband and two daughters, ages five and two.

The service was what it was meant to be. We remembered and celebrated the important gifts her life gave us. We made space for our longing in the days to come.

Death, whether we like it or not, makes life exceedingly clear.

In the hours after her memorial, person after person came up to me to thank me for what I’d said, and each, in his or her own way, acknowledged that this hastily-ended life make them think about how they are leading their own singular existence here on Earth.

I encouraged everyone present to do something, anything, whatever they could dream up, that was excessively good — for themselves — in the memory of our friend.

My message hit home. Several people approached me with business ideas that they’d been considering, but were now determined to pursue.

Others told me they would go into counseling to clear up some mess or other.

Still others said they would pursue artistic endeavors that they’d put off for whatever reason.

Even more told me that they would take a page out of our deceased beloved’s book and create a genuine spiritual practice for themselves.

Death makes life so clear.

My heart aches for the family she’s left behind, and rejoices in the valuable lesson her life gives all of us: this life that we each lead in this place and this time is the only one we’ll get in just quite this format. Live it to the fullest.

Sweet friend, we’ll miss you; thank you for teaching us so exquisitely.

 

Visit Susan Corso’s spiritual blog or subscribe to Seeds at www.susancorso.com.

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About peacecorso

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Dr. Susan Corso is a spiritual author, speaker, and counselor. An omnifaith minister and the author of God’s Dictionary (Tarcher/Putnam 2002) and The Peace Diet, she has had a spiritual counseling practice for more than 25 years. She has been an intuitive since childhood. 
 
Susan’s blogosphere writing may be found at Seeds for Sanctuary, Ode Magazine and The Huffington Post, and Beliefnet. Her website is SusanCorso.com 
 
One of her favorite occupations is writing spiritual fiction. She is the author of The Healing Mysteries of Mex Stone under the pseudonym Shulamith Burton. The audiobook of the first in the series, Oklahoma! Hex, came out in September 2008.
 
Susan is the founder of Sanctuary and ten-year author/publisher of a free e-newsletter, Seeds. As a professor at the accredited College of Divine Metaphysics, she teaches and ordains ministers.
 
Susan has been published in magazines, online magazines and newsletters including Business Ethics, Beliefnet.com, Ode Magazine, Science of Mind, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, New York House, Q-Spirit, Self, and Winning Ways. She is the author of several tape series. Susan also writes for the theatre: The God Show, I Would Never, Fight or Flight, and PeaceWomen. 
 
For many years, Susan was an organizational consultant and motivational speaker guiding nuclear scientists as well as entrepreneurs into their life purposes. Some of her former clients include Westinghouse Hanford Company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Gila River Casinos, and the American Nuclear Society, among many others.

Today she functions as Chief Spiritual Officer for corporations. She lives in one-sixth of a Victorian house outside of Boston, with her beloved spouse, director/actress/teacher Sheriden Thomas, and the spirit of her familiar cat, Charles of the Ritz. 
 
Her mission in life is peace. 

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2 Responses to Death Makes Life Clear

  1. runestone0 February 16, 2009 at 2:29 pm #

    Hi Susan,

    I'm a four-time cancer survivor, who beat supposedly terminal lymphoma of the bone (clear 12 years). The Buddha said,"Let death be your greatest teacher." After facing it down so many times, I understand what he meant. It goes to the heart of your post.

    Best regards,

    Bob

  2. tribhuvan February 16, 2009 at 3:12 pm #

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