Soul Path Insights

This past Sunday (17th August 2024), I was reminded again of how fragile and fleeting life can be. One of my friends, who was part of our church’s audio-visual setup team, passed away in her sleep on Saturday morning. She was the one who usually handled the sound, setting up mics and speakers, so her absence on Sunday was deeply felt. Hearing the news from friends on Saturday was shocking—there’s something surreal about knowing someone who was just here, making plans, living their life, and then suddenly, they’re gone. She had even made plans to meet up with friends over the weekend, plans she would never get to keep.

When I walked into the auditorium that morning, I immediately sensed the heaviness in the air. It was quiet, and you could feel the weight of people’s thoughts. They were reflecting, perhaps mourning in their own ways. I realized that many people already knew she had passed, even though it hadn’t yet been announced to the congregation. There was a sadness that was palpable, and it was a reminder of how quickly life can change. The Bible reminds us that death can come suddenly, “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), and that’s exactly how it felt.

My friend was only in her 30s, and it seemed like her life had been cut short. I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she had completed her purpose here. Maybe her task, the things she needed to do in this life, were finished, and that’s why she “graduated” to the next phase of existence. As James 4:14 says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” We may be making plans, just like my friend was, but we don’t know when our time will come. This has made me reflect a lot on my own mortality. While I believe that death is just a transition, there’s still the reality that we won’t have our physical bodies forever. One day, we will return to spirit, and the life we know now will be just a memory.

On Sunday morning, our tech team gathered before the service to share memories of our friend and process our grief together. One of my friends, who had been especially close to her, was crying heavily, clearly devastated by the loss. The atmosphere was different—somber, reflective—but we still had to move forward, even though we were missing such an essential member of the team. It was a poignant reminder that life does go on, but we are forever changed by the people we lose along the way.

For me, death isn’t the end. I’ve come to see it as a graduation—a transition to the next phase of existence. As it says in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” I believe that the soul never truly dies; it simply continues on in another form. I’ve spent time listening to near-death experience stories, and they’ve shaped my understanding of what happens after we pass. From what I’ve gathered, the other side is filled with bliss, peace, love, and happiness—a far better place than here. 2 Corinthians 5:8 reminds us, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” So, while I grieve the loss of her presence in our physical world, I find comfort in knowing that she is still very much alive, just in a different form that we can’t see.

This perspective is a major shift for me. I remember when my mother passed away—back then, I didn’t have this understanding. I grieved deeply, believing that she was truly gone. But now, I don’t see death as something final. As Romans 14:8 says, “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” I think that’s why I process grief differently than many people do. I’m not dismissing the sadness and loss that others feel, because I’ve felt it too. But knowing what I know now, I’m comforted by the belief that no one ever truly dies; their soul continues on, and they are in a place of love and peace.

Reflecting on the grief of others reminds me of something Elisabeth Kübler-Ross said: “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” It resonates with me that while grief never fully leaves us, it transforms, just like the soul.

Another quote that has shaped my understanding of death comes from Rumi: “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation.” This captures exactly what I feel now—there is no real separation; the essence of those we’ve lost remains with us, beyond the physical realm.

Mother Teresa once said, “Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity.” This is what I hold onto now, the belief that death is not an end but a return to a place of love, where we are reunited with the essence of who we truly are.

As I continue to process the loss of my friend, I’m reminded of the peace that comes from knowing she has “graduated” from this life into the next, where there is only love, peace, and joy. It’s a comforting thought, and one that allows me to view grief through a different lens—a lens that acknowledges loss but celebrates the soul’s journey.

Soul Insights

1. The Soul Never Dies: Death is not the end but a transition. The soul continues its journey in another form, experiencing peace, love, and joy on the other side.

2. Grief is Personal: Everyone grieves differently, and that’s okay. Whether deeply affected or more at peace, our experiences of loss are shaped by our beliefs and perspectives.

3. Life is Fragile, Yet Eternal: While life in this physical form is fleeting, the soul is eternal. Knowing this allows us to cherish each moment while accepting that there is more beyond this life.

4. Connection Transcends Death: Love and connection do not end with physical death. The essence of those we love stays with us, and the bond of love continues even after they’ve crossed over.

5. Embrace the Journey: Both life and death are parts of the soul’s journey. We learn and grow in this life, and when it’s time, we move on to a place of greater peace and love, where the journey continues.

© 2024 Amelie Chambord