I haven't been to church since I was in my late teens, although I sometimes go on Christmas Day, and that is why my hubby has nicknamed me a Christmas Catholic!
Well since being diagnosed with the return of melanoma in the summer I have increasingly felt the need to start going back to church, and so I made the effort yesterday. I am so glad I dd now, not really for my benefit but for my parents. You see it was announced at the beginning of mass that my mum's best friend had died during the previous evening from cancer. Although she had been ill for a year she had perked up in the last few months and had been joining mum on the Women's Guild trips out to the seaside etc. So her death was a shock to her friends, not least my parents & I was so glad I was there for them when they gave their condolences to Maisie's husband. My mum has lost both her best friends now to cancer, one in her 50s & Maisie in her 60s so she is taking it quite hard. It was good to see that all Maisie's family were there for her at the end, 7 adult children & their families, one having just made it from where they live in America.
Their faith is keeping them going & I find that a consolation. I don't see myself as a complete believer in one particular religion but I tend to find strength, hope or consolation in aspects of different religions, which at the end of the day all comes down to having faith in something that helps you through the hard times. The person I most respect & admire is the Dalai Lama. He is such a gentle and wise man and I find his teachings to be very inspiring. One of my favourites is the following :-
EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS PRECIOUS
"Every day, think as you wake up, Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it, I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, To achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards other, I am going to benefit others as much as I can".
