Love conquers death
Guy Macon
In soc.religion.quaker, Yowie wrote:
>
>[morphing nym] wrote:
>
>>Yowie wrote:
>
>>> It is time to send our little mortal incarnation of Bast back to his
>>> source.
>>>
>>> My cat, Shmogg, faithful and loving companion for the last 16 years is
>>> fatally ill, and I have to make that horrible decision as to exactly
>>> *when* he will go back some time this week.
>>>
>>> It sucks.
>>
>> Yes, it does. I'm so sorry to hear about your companion - I had to do
>> the same thing in May, just three weeks before my beloved Rio's 18th
>> birthday. I'd had my best friend, a Shih-Tzu, since she was 8 weeks
>> old. We'd traveled all over, lived in several different places,
>> cities, towns, states, and took care of each other during some very
>> dark times. It was the hardest decision I'd ever had to make in my
>> life, but when she could no longer get around very well on her own and
>> couldn't even get up out of her own waste, I knew it was time. My
>> heart broke then, and it breaks every time I think about letting my
>> best friend go to sleep for the last time.
>>
>> I'll pray for you, okay?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Out of curiosity, do you believe in the concept of an afterlife,
>and if so, do you think you'll see Rio when you get there?
My personal opinion:
I believe by faith that love conquers death. How can the love
that I see in certain cats and dogs *not* conquer death?
Other opinions that I agree with:
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Ecclesiastes chapter 3:
"He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts."
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"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you,
they will be there long before any of us."
Robert Louis Stevenson
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If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs
I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
James Thurber
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"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die
I want to go where they went."
Will Rogers
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"Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit,
you would stay out and your dog would go in."
Mark Twain
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[Concerning whether animals have souls] "If having a soul means
being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans. You've nothing to worry
about there."
[Concerning whether animals joining their masters in the afterlife]
"I do believe it. With all my heart I believe it."
James Herriot
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"How we behave toward cats here below determines
our status in heaven."
Robert A. Heinlein
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The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When
an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for
all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and our friends are
warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health
and vigor;those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small
thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left
behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are
intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from
the group, flying over the green grass, faster and faster. You
have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally
meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted
again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again
caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those
trusting eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from
your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...
Author Uncertain: See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Bridge_(pets)
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An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with
fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked
in, it was nice - grassy, woody areas, just what a 'huntin' dog
and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'no trespassing' so
they walked on.
They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes
standing there. "Welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was
happy and started in with his dog following him.
The gatekeeper stopped him. "Dogs aren't allowed, I'm sorry but
he can't come with you." "What kind of Heaven won't allow dogs?
If He can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my
faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now. "
"Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road
and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promise you
anything, but, the dog can't go there either. If you won't leave
the dog, you'll spend Eternity on this road " So the old man and
dog went on.
They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a
hole. Another old man was inside. "Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are
getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for
awhile?" "Of course, there's some cold water under that tree over
there. Make yourselves comfortable "
"You're sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs
weren't allowed anywhere." "Would you come in if you had to leave
the dog?" " No sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the
dog couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road,
and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine
right about now. But, I won't come in if my buddy here can't
come too, and that's final."
The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven."
"You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow
down the road said they weren't?" "That was the Devil and he
gets all the people who are willing to give up a life-long
companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out
their mistake, but, then it's too late. The dogs come here,
the fickle people stay there.
God wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all,
he created them to be man's companions in life; why would he
separate them in death?"
Author Earl Hamner
Written for _The Twilight Zone_
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THE CURATE THINKS YOU HAVE NO SOUL
The curate thinks you have no soul; I know that he has none. But
you, Dear friend, whose solemn self-control, In our foursquare
familiar pew, Was pattern to my youth -- whose bark Called me in
summer dawns to rove -- Have you gone down into the dark Where
none is welcome -- none may love? I will not think those good
brown eyes Have spent their life of truth so soon; But in some
canine paradise Your wraith, I know, rebukes the moon, And
quarters every plain and hill, Seeking his master... As for me,
This prayer at least the gods fulfill; That when I pass the flood
and see Old Charon by the Stygian coast Take toll of all the
shades who land, Your little, faithful, barking ghost May leap to
lick my phantom hand.
St. John Lucas
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A DOG FOR JESUS
I wish someone had given Jesus a dog As loyal and loving as mine
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes And adore Him for
being divine.
As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog Would have followed
Him all through the day While He preached to the crowds and made
the sick well And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away To face death alone
and apart With no tender dog following close behind To comfort
its Master's Heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn How happy He would have
been As His dog kissed His hands and barked its delight For The
One who died for all men.
Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine The old pal so
dear to me And I smile through my tears on this first day alone
Knowing they're in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through Wherever my road inclined
Four feet said, "I am coming with you!" And trotted along
behind."
Rudyard Kipling
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I can't prove it scientifically, but I choose to believe
that love conquers death.
Guy Macon
misc.business.product-dev moderator
"The Business side of Product Development"
<http://www.guymacon.com/>
======================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
Xpost & OT approved: There is more to life than developing products...