Of Death, the Veil, and Kismet

Please be understanding with this post. My heart is fragile.

Yesterday my son’s friend died. Both boys are barely 21. They have been friends for 7 years. The friend had been battling a rare leukemia. It was so rare that 10 months ago when he was diagnosed doctors said it was curable in a couple of months. That cure never came. My son, his friends, and our family made hospital visits, took in food, supported and so on. Eight years earlier, the dad of this young man, was killed by a texting teen when he was riding his bike. The last 10 months, this boys widowed Mom, has had to walk a second death spouseless.

On Palm Sunday, my son’s friend, was released from medical care. He came home to spend his final 3 days in his room. We, along with other close friends, sat vigil with the family. Last night, beginning about 5 pm. My son and his closest friends surrounded their dying friends bed. They sang songs (they all met in theater), some read scriptures, others quoted inspiring lines. My son sang Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.

Moments later the young man drew his last breath.

I was in the grocery store check out line when the text came through. We spent the rest of the night mourning and consoling. These friends are Evangelical, but they said again and again, “Today he is with his Heavenly Father and his earthly Dad.”

Ironically, that morning I received a Facebook private message from another widow friend.

Less than a month ago, her husband died unexpectedly on a business trip. He didn’t feel well after dinner. He died in his sleep. He had one of those undetectable heart conditions. My husband was also on a business trip when his co-worker and friend died. I attended the service for both of us. We had lost touch with these friends from 30 years ago. Though the two men still worked at the same company they were in different departments and different teams. We each had moved from our original neighborhoods. Our kids were all grown. The funeral was my first contact with them in years. I had promised we would have dinner together when my husband got home. I have yet to keep that promise. Her message was a reminder of a much earlier co-worker prank the guys had performed. I was surprised to get it, because we aren’t official Facebook friends.

As I went to bed last night – my musings about death, The Veil (as we call it), and kismet ran through my mind. Were all these events and unexpected connections pure kismet, or are there powers that manage this life for the other side.

I know I desperately want there to be “The Other Side” I want those lives to reconnect. I want all the good in the human family to have a chance to go on. To reunite. To be a Shining City on a Hill. Maybe yesterday I wanted it bad enough to create an energy to make it happen.

If you have read this far, Thank you. If not, don’t worry. I just needed to see my thoughts on paper (or screen). Thanks.