Eternally Bound to Earth

My father died when I was fourteen. He was sick for most of my childhood and somehow I had always known he would die young. He didn’t tell me bedtime stories about princesses or evil wizards. Instead, I would ask him about his childhood with the intention that I would one day tell his stories to others. I never liked to speak of death, especially not to him, but the topic did come up one night. We spoke of life after death. He had said that he would like to believe in a heaven, as most do, but also questioned the idea of death being eternal resting.

The idea of nothing is impossible. While asleep, one dreams or simply wakes up the next morning as if no time had passed at all. If there were no next morning, there would be no time, no presence. Heaven, however, is a beautiful word as well as a beautiful idea. The idea of one day seeing all of your loved ones again having their spirit beside you is comforting. I sometimes speak to my father as if he is there, watching over my mother, sister and I. I wonder if he is.

I am not a religious person. I am neither an atheist or a theist. I am agnostic as I am simply unsure. The same idea of uncertainty goes for my belief on the afterlife. I believe life is a special and unique experience. Maybe life doesn’t leave Earth and one’s soul will find a new body, a new mind and a new heart to experience life again with. The idea of reincarnation brings comfort to me as it would mean my father lives on and he will one day experience all that he couldn’t when his life was cut short. It would mean there is a chance for everyone to find beauty in life.

I choose to believe in reincarnation. I choose to believe that there is a future after death and that souls are eternal.