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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Five People You Meet In Heaven


The Five People You Meet In Heaven



Have you read books by Mitch Albom, his most famous one being “Tuesdays with Morrie” which was made into a movie? A couple of month’s back I read “The five people you meet in Heaven” by Albom also a movie. It is about an old man dying in an accident and the five people he meets in heaven when he awakens in the afterlife. Heaven is not at all what he imagines but a classroom of learning about the life that he has left behind. Each of these people teaches him about his earthly life. There are no accidents in life, everything is preordained, connected, and how an act by someone can cause ripples of reactions affecting your loved ones as well as strangers, changing their paths forever.

From a very young age I have pondered often about death, not with fear but more out of curiosity. How will death come, is it painful or is there a sense of freedom in dying? What happens after you die? I have read many books on it. Most tell us that once we leave this earthly body we are guided to another realm by the people we have loved in this life and who have passed away. It may be our parents, our spouses, friends, grandparents and mentors, anyone that we would love to meet again. It is very natural after we have lost loved ones to want to be with them or meet them after we die. I remember reading another book by Lobsang Rampa, a Tibetan mystic. It is about a janitor who suddenly dies and his soul is somehow trapped in this earthly plane because he never desired to meet a loved in the afterlife so there is no one to help him cross over. And I thought to myself that it is necessary that we have loved ones in the afterlife, souls that we desire to meet after we die so that the transition to the other realm is made easier.

As I lay in bed today a thought came to me…if I outlive everyone, who are the five people I would most love to meet? Have you ever thought of that? The most obvious will be our parents of course and then perhaps brothers and sisters. And then who? I am keeping out children because I hope and pray we don’t ever outlive them. But yes I am sure there will be mothers and fathers who have lost a child want to be reunited with them once they die. I have a cousin who lost his mother at a young age and I know that he has conversations with her even today. Every time he is in a dilemma he will reach out for her and he feels her presence and knows that she watches over him. When my father passed away, the first thing my cousin told my mother was “Now Mama (uncle) must be meeting Ma”. My father and his mother were brothers and sisters.

The first thought that came to my mind was that if I outlived everyone life would become pretty lonely. The prospect of crossing over would then be a welcoming one. As I mulled over the list of people I realized I had countless people that I would want to meet. I tried to shortlist that list but it wasn’t easy. I know I would want both my parents waiting to engulf me in their warmth. I would also love to meet someone very close to my heart whose life was taken away too soon. And yes perhaps even a stranger who changed my life and I his. What a reunion that would be! And if I outlive my other half then I would be anxious for him, my closest soul mate, whom I met too late in this lifetime. As I close my eyes imagining, I can almost feel the love that will radiate from all my loved ones as they guide me through this transition. A promise of a new beginning and of lifetimes of togetherness.

However on the other hand if I am one of the first to leave this realm, I wonder who would want to meet me? I think the people that we are most connected to in this life are the ones that we meet again and again in all our different lifetimes. But how many will be there to meet me half way? Who are the ones who will long to meet you in the afterlife? Have you ever thought about it, the ones that you touched so deeply in this lifetime that they will miss you till they are reunited with you? 

59 comments:

  1. This post gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. Now I will think of the 5 people I would like to meet...

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  2. Thank you Savira. It is not easy selecting just five actually.

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  3. Rimly,

    I don't give the after life much thought because I don't know how I truly feel about the subject. I don't like to think about death. It doesn't scare me but I derive no comfort from the thoughts of death. You have given me much to ponder. Lovely post my friend.

    Xoxo
    Jess

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  4. Thank you Jessica. It is not easy thinking about something to death.

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  5. Rimly,firstly I would not want to live that long...and if by chance I do...who will I want to meet..no one,coz I would out lived everyone I love..there will be no one left,the thought scares me Rimly,I don't want to be lonely anymore..
    And if I am gone before every one,I will want to meet my Dad,my sister,my friend Devika,my grandfather,and yes another grandfather who gave me a lot of pain...I am waiting to meet them all.

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  6. Wonderful post Rimly; I am thinking, there are 2 people that already are there waiting, I hope to meet them. Mostly I want to be with the ones I have and love now, so that if we don't meet I will have loved all I can. Very thought provoking post I must say!

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  7. Alpana so you know exactly who you want to meet in heaven.No one wants to live alone or die alone but if you have loved ones waiting on the other side, you will be happy to see them again

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  8. Jan I wrote this because it really got me thinking. Who would be the five most dear people I would want to meet. Thank you for reading and liking it.

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  9. Rimly, I would be the sixth person waiting for you up there my friend, along with your family and soul-mate.But I wouldn't want you to come up there for a long long time...enjoy life and be happy. Lovely post, must read this book.

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  10. At one point 18 years ago I thought I might be close. I really gave it a thought back then and wondered if I would see my grandparents and especially my mom. Well 18 years later and doing great I really don't think about it much other then hoping I go before Phyllis. I'm a coward lol don't want to be around without her

    Great article I love your poems but I really find it super interesting to read what your thoughts are on subjects

    http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2011/08/photographing-walk-on-beach-in-florida.html

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  11. I think about death all the time and what heaven woud be like..I don't think it matters who we meet but how we will live on and the peace and love we will feel ..Haeaven...As always...XOXOXOXOXOX

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  12. Rimly, you have a beautiful way with words and I enjoyed your reflections. I agree, it's hard to think of just five. Not counting family who are existing presently (even aged members) if I was to go right now, I know I'd be thrilled to be reunited with two dear friends were were taken from this world, in my opinion, too early.

    I don't think too much about death. I definitely think it's nothing to be feared. God is love and we will all return to the embrace of His loved, our souls purified and washed over by His healing light, mercy and grace.

    Great post :)

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  13. I always think I'll outlive my parents and my siblings. I always pray that so I could prepare a place for them.

    Geez, God, I want to meet Jesus first, Mama Mary and my guardian angel...Mother Teresa and my favorite saints as well. My spiritual director when I was young, Mons. Litong...

    I think I listed more than five...I pray there's a celebration so I could meet everybody else like a reunion.

    And if one day, I outlive my friends too, I pray I'd meet my soul sisters there...you, Alpana and Sancheeta, Jessica M, Jim B, Monu and NJ, XT, Maria and Jimmy... Adam... and even Sam...

    You gave me something I could reflect on for the rest of my life. I love you soul sis :* Thanks...

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  14. Rimly, I did read the book and it touched me very much. I also used to read Mitch Albom's sports column when I lived in Detroit. I always have been a fan of his writing.

    I would first want to meet my sister Angie that I never got the chance to know. She died shortly after her birth. I also want to be reunited with my two dads, biological and adoptive. I do think about death sometimes. It doesn't scare me anymore. When I lost my adoptive father I became more comfortable with the notion knowing that he'd be waiting for me. Lovely post.


    http://lyricfire.typepad.com/lyric-fire/2011/08/lyric-fire-its-all-in-the-comments-or-not-.html

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  15. Sulekha I dont have to even wish that because I know you will be there waiting if I outlive you. If not I will be there waiting to take your hand.

    Jim even that way I am a coward. I would not want my loved one to go first, I want to go before that. The thought of living without him in this life is too much to bear. Your comments are always welcome. Thank you as always

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  16. Bonnie I agree with you and yet I would want to be reunited with the people I love in heaven. Thank you

    Jessica thank you for your comment. It is really not easy to choose just five.God is love and to be surrounded by those that love you is godly itself.

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  17. Melissa my soul sis I have no doubts all of us friends will have a party in heaven. We will rock!

    Tameka I am a fan of Mitch Albom.I love his books. I lost quite a few loved ones already, including my dad. Somehow I have accepted the truth about death. If there is life then there has to be death.Thank you for reading this and coemmenting

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  18. I don't think so much about meeting people...I think about how blissful it would feel to suddenly, in one go, release every negative thought and feeling we've ever had, and be totally free from any pain (emotional or physical). That's what I believe happens when we re-emerge into non-physical.

    I really enjoyed reading your thoughts Rimly...you made me pause and think a bit deeper.

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  19. Souls are pure light and I am sure that is the most blissful state. Thank you Becky for reading and commenting

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  20. An inspiring post today. Although i will shout from the rooftop 'HEAVEN CAN WAIT', i have to much more to achieve here, when the time does come, i want to meet all the people that have shown me the way on my journey here to say thank you, then i will reunite with my loved ones tell them i've missed them, and ask them to point me to the computer room because i want to blog

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  21. I love Mitch Albom and have read everyone of his books which I recommend to all. I have thought about the afterlife often after the death of Erin and tried to imagine what it looks like, what it feels like to die and if loved ones greet us. I would most certainly want Erin (Yes I believe beloved pets go to heaven) and my grandmother Nana to guide me but everyone else is still alive. My parents, brother, and sister are still above ground so that's good and I'm kinda hoping I go before the rest of the family for personal reasons. Thanks for an enjoyable post!! :)

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  22. I have thought of this many times in the last few years. Chances are good, my being the youngest in the family and last of the bloodlines I will be the last to vacate this moment. I think I will see my husband, my father, and my mom, grandpa...first...then I hope to see all those who have touched me, and who I have touched, the people who brought light into my life and who I was allowed to bring light to theirs....

    On a side note, I watched my husband talk to people, I know one was my grandfather who he never met, because my husband said something only my grandfather knew...I could feel them waiting for him, and he was wonderfully happy. It was like watching a baby be born in a way, even though it was profoundly painful to me.

    Lovely post Rimly...truly you are a beautiful soul and I'll see you there ;-)

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  23. I already read this during my first year in college! Woadh! It's an awesome book! I remembered that the last person he saw was a young Filipino. :p
    I really love this book!!! :)

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  24. I concur with Melissa. Jesus first, then my parents and brother, and then my cousins and aunts and uncles who’ve gone before me.
    Thank you for this beautiful message Rimly!

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  25. Woah what a thought!! I love Mitch Albom, and have read both his books. I have to think hard and long. I hope there isn't a limit to the number of souls you can meet!!

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  26. Larry I am sure you will head for a computer to blog but for now "Heaven can wait" LOL! Thank you for coming here and commenting

    David I know you would want to meet Erin there and I am sure she too is waiting for you. Albom really touches something in me, makes me think. I too would want to go before my loved ones do but I have had quite a few loved ones pass away and I am still here. Thank you for your thoughtful comments

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  27. Lisa thank you so much for reading and commenting. I agree with you, after parents and grandparents I too would love to meet those that have touched me and I theirs.It must have been painful letting go of your husband, it was the same with me with my father but if we know that we will meet them again then perhaps the hoping makes the pain slightly easier to bear.I am counting on meeting you there too.

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  28. Faye thank you visiting. I love all of Mitch Albom's books. I am yet to see this movie though.

    Debra thank you so much. I am sure heaven is full of all the people we love.

    Swati there is no limit to the number of people we can meet. I am sure we can start a Ladies Club there too.

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  29. Wow, I never thought about it like this, I mean the 5 people. I know of 4 people that I cannot wait to see :) Sometimes the process of dying is scary to me and what happens afterwards. But I am not scared of the life thereafter because I know it is going to be awesome!

    Thank you for this great post Rimly!

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  30. hey! even i ponder on similar things like u do..as to what would be in paradise or life after death...as for 5 people..well they might change from time to time in our lives coz we tend to meet so many new people each day :))


    sarah

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  31. Because of the nature of the work I do, I actually think I have more friends "up there" than here on Earth. I love so many people and other wonderful entities, I couldn't possibly narrow it down to five. I do miss my mom. And I miss my good friend, the Black Dragon. And yes, he is a real, scaly kind of beast. We have had many good times together. And honestly, I want to be reunited with my best beloved cats who have passed on, and there are easily more than five of them. Nope, five won't be enough. Fortunately, I don't think we really have a limit. Oh, and I want to chat with George Harrison! I'd like to thank him.

    Blessings,
    Orea
    http://orea-highervoice.blogspot.com/

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  32. very thought provoking...I don't so much think of moving on and meeting people after death as much as I think of how I live life today and the impact that I have on the lives of others -- especially my children & that special one that I call The One; I want to love, live and laugh as much as possible, so that when I go they remember all the loving, living and laughing!

    Now there is one exception to my thoughts on meeting others after death...rather much later than anytime soon, of course -- I hope, pray and hunger to meet my baby girl that did not make it in this world...I will always have a small hole in my heart that will remain until then. I think anyone who has lost a child feels a longing...

    http://mommetime.com/2011/08/19/dante-de-lion-the-tooth-of-a-lion-this-moment-friday-ritual.aspx

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  33. Nelieta thank you. I know five people is too few to want to meet in heaven.

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  34. Sarah I think everyone at some point or the other does ponder on death. Some with fear, some out of curiosity. I too would want to meet more than five people in heaven, the list is quite endless and will keep getting longer as I age. Thank you for reading and commenting

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  35. Orea I would really like to know why you want to chat with George Harrison. I am sure heaven is not only full of human souls but also other entities. You will surely meet all your cats and especially your black dragon. Thank you for reading and commenting

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  36. Amy losing a child always leaves a hole in your heart that cannot be filled and I am sure you will meet your baby girl someday but till then the secret is to live life fully and to the best. Thank you for reading and commentning

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  37. This is a great way to start thinking about who in our lifetime has meant the most to us. Thanks, Rimly.

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  38. Rims
    Death has always been a very curious topic for me as well. I am almost intrigued to the point sometimes I feel am in love with it. Pondering on my last few minutes, what will go through my silly mind... I just hope there wont be any regrets wasting my ticking time!! :)
    Loved your piece and I don't want 5 I want 50 (including my dogs) on my list that I'd rush up to and party ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

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  39. You got me thinking, Rimly!! I've never tried to think of the after-life because the life we live is so time consuming!!! As you rightly pointed out - there are no accidents in life, everything is preordained - This just might be the right time to ponder.

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  40. Yes Adriene it is something to ponder on. Who are the people you would want to meet. Thank you reading and commenting

    Sheba we are both alike in that sense. I have been in love with death too. I too hope there will be no regrets. Thank you for reading and commenting

    Eva I guess not many people like to dwell on the after life because life is too busy but death is equally an important part of life. Thank you for reading and commenting

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  41. I love this book and recently, after running across it, had the same thought. I think that in the book, he was surprised at the people he met. It is definitely difficult to do a shortlist. I guess it's one of those thing that we'll have to wait and see. Thanks for sharing!

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  42. I don't think about death too often. I do write letters to dead poets and writers, and imagine lavish dinner parties that I host where these people come to join me and we talk and drink wine. They talk I listen, making notes, etc., and well, anything is possible after a night like this.

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  43. Thank you Sili. I love all of Mitch Albom's books. This book really got me thinking. You are right we have to wait and see who we meet.

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  44. hi Brenda that must be such a unique experience, having such talented people coma and share their views. Yes anything is possible in life as well as afterlife! Thank you

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  45. Hi, Rimly! --

    Here's another fine film you might enjoy if you haven't seen it already "Afterlife" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165078/

    I had an out-of-body-experience about a decade ago that changed everything I thought I previously knew about death. Now, I consider death to be a part of life, as opposed to the end of life, and a resting place between life-times.

    Thank you for this thoughtful post!

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  46. Rimly, I have never given it much thought but it is an interesting concept. I could say right now that one of my five would definitely be my mother, without a doubt!

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  47. Never really thought about this, Rimly. Actually the life after doesn't interest me too much..but you've got me thinking alright :)

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  48. Linda I am not sure but I think I have seen Afterlife. And you are one of the first I have known to have out of body experience. Yes death is part of life and it is only the beginning. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience.

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  49. Anna thank you for reading and commenting. My dad would be one of the five for me

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  50. Corrine I know this is not something people ponder on but I do very often so this post and especially after reading the book. Thank you

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  51. amazing thought rimly :)
    i too long to read the two books by him.
    the article was lovely, especially the final thought: we are destined to meet people we love again and again in this lifetime and in further lives. but who will meet us through the time we spend as a soul?

    kudos :)
    terence

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  52. Thank you Terewolf. Mitch Albom is a very thought provoking writer.Yes it something to think about how many will want to meet us there and it all depends on how well you have lived your life and touched people's hearts

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  53. Well noe you REALLY have me thinking. :)

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  54. Oops! That should say now, not noe. :)

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  55. Haven't read the book, will find it soon. Wonderful post, but not surprising, coming from one who always wonders about everything, this life or next. Somehow I have not pondered about next life much,may be rigors of this life have taken too much of my time or may be I leave it to destiny, for like you said since everything in this life is preordained, so could be the next life too...;

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  56. Rachel thank you for commenting. It is something to think about.

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  57. Thank you Youknowwho, yes I do think a lot about everything, this life as well as the after life. Everything in preordained so the next life too is already preordained.I have the book so you read it someday.

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  58. srry for visiting so late....i regret not comin here earlier...:)
    ok abt the post...very deeply thought n movin...i really started countin people i would wanna meet...n i have a long list defintly more than 5...:)...but dear plz dont think abt aftr life so much...even if its in a positive way...there is so much more to think abt...we might not fear our death but wen we think of our loved ones...it scares the hell out of me...

    neways realy realy liked ur post...:)

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  59. Hi Vaisakhi you are right one should be obsessed about death. This was a thought that came to me after reading that book. It is something to ponder about. Thank you for reading and visiting

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