by Louise Christensen

Created on: April 08, 2011   Last Updated: April 10, 2011

There are many people who like to wax philosophical and say there are two things in life that none of us can avoid; taxes and death. Now that I am retired I no longer pay taxes... so much for philosophical sayings. Knowing I have lived long enough to avoid taxes means I must be getting closer to death.

In the western half of the world there is still a great deal of fear attached to the notion of death. Christians have been brow-beaten down through the centuries and taught that some sins committed cannot be forgiven and so hell is where those sinners will end up. Some religions allow for forgiveness regardless of how many times the sin is committed; just be contrite, say a few passages or prayers or something to let God know you feel really bad and all is forgiven.

I long ago stopped worrying about hell, forgiveness of my sins and what will happen when I die. I stopped worrying about it because as an immortal being I know that I will never die. The body I happen to be living in right now will eventually wear out or get sick or be in an accident and cease to exist; but I won’t. A scientist may provide a very detailed description of the death process itself and catalog the shut-down of the organs and will even explain away the pervasive belief by many that there is a light at the end of a dark tunnel and loved ones will come to help us along our way; I’m happy for them in their conviction.

It is hard to ignore thousands perhaps even millions of people who believe in the tunnel, the light, and grandma coming to lead the way. It is a belief that has persevered throughout my lifetime, my parents, my grandparents, most of my friends and a lot of strangers who write whole books about it. My father was with my grandmother when she died and he was amazed at her experience. My grandmother was very fearful of death; she had allowed her religion to convince her that because of having been married more than once, she would not be allowed a place in heaven. Down through the years I tried to convince her that she was not going to go to hell; I’m not sure I was successful.

My father said there was quite a change over grandma at the moment of her death. He said that she seemed to take on a kind of glow in her face. Then she opened her eyes and seemed to be looking at something no one else could see and with a look of total amazement on her face, she just kept saying “Oh my, Oh my goodness…” Dad kept asking her what was she seeing, but

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