“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.”
~ White Elk
Today’s quote, in my humble opinion, is so very simple yet wonderfully profound. There was a lot of trauma involved in our birth. The cry of babies is so very important. First of all, it signals that we are, indeed, alive. Second, it signals that we are able to breathe on our own. Our ability to draw our own breath is critical to our being able to sustain life.
However, the transition from the womb to this huge, foreign world is quite shocking on a baby. Deprived of its safe enclosure, it cannot help but cry. Big, deep, emotional outbursts are heard in the delivery room.
Even as the baby cries, those in the room smile huge smiles. It is really something to witness the birth of a child. The people celebrating the child’s birth do everything that they can to provide for the child, thus beginning a lifetime of symbiotic care. For the majority of their lives, babies — then children, then young adults — are cared for by those who brought them into existence. Then, we get to repay the love of others as we begin to care for the ones who brought us into existence but who, later in life, begin to falter.
Wearied of life, our parents and elders begin to look toward a new life in another existence. Their transition brings tears to those who love them but brings incredible rejoicing to those who pass from this life to the next. No longer will pain or suffering or anguish hurt them. No longer will doubt or confusion or despair burden them. All they will experience is peace and joy.
When we are born, we begin to impact the world. At first, our impact can be burdensome upon others. They have the responsibility to care for us, to teach us, and to guide us. Eventually, we realize that we have a responsibility to others and begin to carry our fair share. Then, our impact upon the world is one of service. That is, if we live our lives according to the teaching of the Lord.
FAITH ACTION: Live your life in such a way as to impact another person’s life for the better today.