I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DIE..........I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.

JUST BEHIND MY HEAD YOU CAN SEE A FAINT PICTURE OF MY FATHER

Too soon this journey of life will end, just as the journey of all living things.
How do I prepare? For I only have this one opportunity to do it right.

Almost thirty years ago, when I was about forty seven. It was just a few hours before my Father's Passing, my Father was lying on his bed. I noticed that he had a look of concern on his face. I knew the look was not from the pain that he was enduring, for I had seen this look before upon his face, usually when he was trying to figure out some problem.
I leaned close to him and asked "what is it that's bothering you Dad?" He looked into my eyes, in a soft, almost inaudible voice, said " I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DIE.....I'VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE"

I had no answer, no words of wisdom, I did not know of any set of rules or regulations, all that I could do was take hold of his hand and in a voice that quavered said, "YOU WILL DO JUST FINE DAD"

Since that day, I have spent many hours contemplating my Fathers words.
I have asked myself over and over, " would I prefer to spend those last minutes with family and friends or would I prefer to be alone, my last conscious minutes, recalling the journey along my path, the beauty of this world that I have seen, the lessons learned, the gifts received from the Creator.
I think the latter is my preference, enabling me to be free of influence, of remorse, of sadness, able to concentrate totally when I say my last "THANK YOU TO THE GREAT CREATOR"