Whether it's a good book, a great series, a terrific game, and often in wonderful lives, there are last chapters, and with those last chapters come emotion. With books and films and series, I often feel a sense of sadness with last chapters. I don't want the story, series, or film to end. With games, there's often a next game to look forward to, and with lives--those last chapter experiences are painful, mysterious, and conflicting. How do we face those last life chapters--what do we do?
Why am I thinking about last chapters? The condo collapse in Surfside made the fragility of life all so clear to us--the faces of the two angels, little girls, who perished in the collapse are painful to see--beautiful, young lives cut short. Experiencing the illness of loved ones also brings last chapters to mind--long term, grave illnesses that are sometimes the reality of last chapters carry with it sadness, longing, and a will to make the best of the situation--do what you can to make the last chapter meaningful, loving, and positive.
Last chapters can creep up on us--we can think we have a long time in a place or with loved ones, and then all of a sudden we realize the end is near, change is happening, this is the last chapter. If we focus are lives on the essential ingredients of love, care, honesty, and humility--last chapters may not be as abrupt or worrisome, but instead, expected change.
This is a muddy post--one that lacks clarity, but one that is starting my last chapter reflections so that I meet this experience in life's story with as much grace as possible.