The Many Colours of Dying

Design by Jerome D'Costa

Death is a certainty for all life-forms, including mankind.

In the past, people died of diseases, accidents, natural disasters, self-willed actions (suicide), and aggressions or attacks from other human beings or animals. 

In the modern world, with the proliferation of education and knowledge, changing legislation, improved science, attitude change, and demand for personal rights, the death scenario has changed dramatically. Now people die and get buried in a variety of ways.

The Walrus, a general-interest magazine of Toronto, has been publishing a series of write-ups on this modern-day phenomenon. You may read them by clicking on the following:

• The End: How We Die Now 

Fabulous, Fantastic and Funny Coffins of Ghana

Papaa Joe with his amazingly-carved wooden coffin in Ghana

Photo courtesy: www.theguardian.com/

Yes, death brings in sorrow, loss! Is it thinkable that death also can bring in mirth and amazement?  That's what is being made possible by the intricately carved fantasy coffins in Ghana.

 To know more, please visit the following sites:

• Fantasy coffin (Wikipedia.org)
• 29 Insanely Elaborate Custom Coffins from Ghana (Sept. 20, 2012)
• Ghanaian coffins – in pictures (Feb. 7, 2013)
• Going Out in Style: Fantasy coffin-makers of Teshie [in Ghana] (May 2, 2013)
• The fabulous coffins of Ghana (Oct. 14, 2016)
• How Ghana’s top fantasy coffin artist has put the fun infuneral [Paa Joe] (Nov. 24, 2016)
• Meet the First Family of Creative Ghanaian Handmade Coffins [Anang Kwei] (Dec. 30, 2016)
• Images for Personalized Ghana Coffins (Google.ca)

The Quotation of the Week (December 10 - 16, 2017)

A quotation of Steve Jobs on 'death,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork (Christian symbols of death: Nov. 1, 2017) © Mary D'Costa

The Photo Meditation of the Month (February, 2010): DEATH

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A dead bird, a torn sandal, and a piece of deadwood
are symbols of death, as seen near a stream
on a beach on the Oregon Coast, USA

Photo (Oregon Coast, USA: 1976) © Jerome D'Costa

Death

In the above photo, we see the symbols of death. If there is a birth, there is a death, too. Death is a sure and eternal truth -- for human beings, and the flora and fauna. The difference between human beings and other living organisms is that humans have a soul and a free will, whereas others don't have these. The body is mortal, but this soul is immortal. Because of the soul, humans are unique beings.

We came to this world for a period of time to go to another life upon our death. Those who believe in God, also believe that God sent us to this world to lead a life so that we be worthy to be with him in the life eternal. For this purpose, we are to love God and our neighbours in this world in such a way that we we be worthy for him. If we do not live worthily in this world, we will live our next life in an unblessed way -- devoid of the blessings of God.

Atheists say that there's neither God nor afterlife. When human life comes to an end in this world, there's nothing more to be expected or no other place to go to.

If there's no God, no afterlife, then we are like other animals and the flora. If it is so, then we could live a life like animals. If it is so -- if upon death everything comes to an end -- why do we need to live a good life -- loving our neighbours, showing courtesies to others, striving for good virtues, and working for peace? Like animals, we could just fight for our food, forcibly take away others' things, sleep wherever we can, and die -- and then finitum est (everything is finished)! Why spend so much time, money and effort in child rearing and parenting, other training and education, discovery and invention? Why do we need aesthetics, ethics, morality, music, plays, movies, and the like?

It's in the human heart that death leads us to another life. We saw in the rural areas in our country (Bangladesh) -- where most of the people are illiterate -- that as people age, they gain more understanding and realization that death is approaching and they prepare themselves for death by good behaviour and increased religious practices. Nobody forces them to do so. If there was nothing after death, why would they behave like this naturally?

If we focus on death, if we believe in God and afterlife, we will lead our life in a befitting manner and be ready to enter the blessed life eternal.

Elena Desserich Is An Angel: She's Touching Thousand Hearts After Her Death

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Six-year-old Elena Desserich
Photo courtesy: The Toronto Star

One of Elena's drawings with a loving note to her parents and sister

Photo courtesy: The Daily Mail (London)

I first came to know of the powerful story of little Elena Desserich from a feature published in the The Toronto Star. I was moved by the amazing gifts that Elena had before her death from brain cancer in August, 2007. I like to share this story with you.

Keith and Brooke Desserich are originally from Wyoming, USA. Later they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. They had two little daughters -- Elena and Grace (also called Gracie). In 2006, at the age of five, Elena was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Although the doctor gave her four-and-a-half months to live, she actually lived nine months.

The parents did not want to let Elena know of her serious condition and impending death. Mr. Desserich said: "We didn't want to focus on the cancer, we wanted to focus on being a family and doing all the things that Elena wanted to do."

Somehow Elena came to know of her coming death. Or, it may be that due to her health condition and extra attention and care that she received from all, she herself came to the realization that she would not survive long. There came a time when the cancer spread further and she was unable to talk. After this she furiously wrote small notes, now called love notes, with her beautiful childlike drawings and hid them all from her parents and sister. She sequestered these notes and drawings in nooks and corners, in between pages of books in the house, in bags, clothes, drawers and cupboards. Her parents estimate the number of notes and drawings surpassing 300!

She was beyond her age. She loved her parents, sister, grandparents, and the family dog very much. She wanted to give a surprise to them after her death. She knew that her notes and drawings would surface later one by one and tell them again and again that she loved them so much!

After her death, parents gradually began to find Elena's notes and drawings one by one. By this time, they published a book, Notes Left Behind, with Elena's notes, drawings and a journal that parents were keeping during Elena's last months. The parents also started a foundation in honour of Elena for funding cancer research. The proceeds from the sale of the book as well as other donations will be used by this foundation, named 'The Cure Starts Now Foundation'.

Two examples of her notes are: "I love you mom, dad." "I love you mom, dad, Grace."

What can we learn from the short life of little Elena? Quite a bit! We can learn that --

• Every life is precious, however little it is. Everyone has a potential to contribute something in his or her own way.
  
• A little one also can teach us a lesson or two.
• Having a purpose (goal) + striving with determination = Success.
• Love conquers all.

We wish that little Elena Desserich's legacy live long and let her moving example continue to inspire millions of people.

For more photos of Elena, you may visit The Daily Mail article.