Some people are terrified of dying, but not me. Because I know that when my life ends, I will enter a new world. My body and mind will be young again. And I will get to meet the Lord face to face. Amen.
In the quiet village of Solaria, nestled between rolling hills and ancient forests, lived an old man named Eli. He was known far and wide not only for his wisdom but for his unusual serenity about the end of life. As he approached his hundredth year, his calm demeanor puzzled many, especially those who feared the unknown journey that lay beyond their final breath.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sky in hues of amber and rose, Eli sat on his porch, surrounded by a chorus of crickets and the gentle rustle of leaves. His great-granddaughter, Lily, a curious and bright-eyed girl of fifteen, joined him with a question that had been on her mind for some time.
“Grandpa Eli,” she began, her voice soft but earnest, “why aren’t you afraid of dying? Everyone else seems so scared.”
Eli’s eyes twinkled with the light of a thousand sunsets as he turned to face her. “Some people are terrified of dying, but not me. Because I know that when my life ends, I will enter a new world. My body and mind will be young again. And I will get to meet the Lord face to face. Amen.”
Lily tilted her head, trying to understand. “But how can you be so sure?”
Eli smiled, a slow and peaceful curve of his lips. “It’s not about certainty, Lily. It’s about faith. For as long as I can remember, my heart has been filled with a quiet trust. I’ve seen and felt so many wonders in this world—every sunrise, every starry night, every act of kindness. I believe that what comes next will be even more extraordinary.”
Lily’s brow furrowed. “But isn’t it scary to think of leaving everything behind? All the people you love, the life you’ve built?”
Eli reached out and took her hand in his, feeling the warmth of her youth against his weathered skin. “Of course, it’s natural to feel that way. It’s hard to say goodbye. But remember, Lily, that love doesn’t end with this life. It transcends it. The bonds we forge, the memories we make—they don’t vanish. They simply transform.”
Lily looked out over the vast fields stretching before them, her young mind grappling with the concept of eternity. “What if it’s not as you expect? What if it’s just… nothing?”
Eli shook his head gently. “If I am wrong, then I’ve lived a life full of love and joy, and that in itself is a gift. But I believe in the goodness of this world, and I trust that it continues beyond what we can see.”
As the stars began to shimmer in the twilight, Eli’s voice softened, becoming a gentle whisper carried by the evening breeze. “It’s not the end, Lily. It’s a new beginning. And sometimes, the best way to face the unknown is with a heart full of hope and a spirit full of love.”
Lily sat in silence, absorbing her great-grandfather’s words. In that moment, she felt a sense of peace settling over her, a quiet understanding that perhaps, just perhaps, there was something more beautiful waiting beyond the horizon of life.
And so, with each passing day, as Eli’s journey drew closer to its end, he did so with a serene smile and a heart brimming with grace. His faith in a new world, in the continuation of love and the promise of meeting the Lord, illuminated his final days with a profound sense of peace that touched everyone around him.
When Eli’s time finally came, the village mourned the loss of a beloved soul. Yet, amidst their grief, they carried forward his legacy—a legacy of unwavering faith and a reminder that life, in all its forms, is a precious journey leading toward an even greater destination.
And in the quiet moments of reflection, when the stars shone brightly above Solaria, Lily would often think of her great-grandfather’s words and find solace in the belief that love and hope transcend the boundaries of life and death, guiding each of them toward a new and wondrous world beyond.
