My Dear young friend,  

As your friend I share the pain of your loss, still Spirit bids me offer you the comfort I have found in the lessons my longer life has given.

From one holy man I learned that Death is my friend and he always walks beside me one arm's length away on my left.  It takes a while for this to become part of you.  You picture it over again from time to time till finally you just know it.  You know Death will deliver you one day and help you to another part of the Circle.  He is your friend.

From another holy man I learned another way to know this.  We painted on our death masks with paint but in Spirit too so that in Spirit we will always wear them.  In days of old a warrior would paint on his fearsome death mask before battle.  His enemies would then know he had already accepted his death and had no fear of them.  What in life can thwart you when you are already on good terms with Death?  Death is Spirit in action.

Another holy man taught me still another way to see it.  Warriors would often say "Hoka Hey" which means, "It is a good day to die".  That also means, "It is a good day to live", because you throw yourself into Life and being in Spirit have no fear of losing it. This means being aware of yourself in the Great Circle that is Spirit and knowing you will come full circle in your path.  Once you accept your own death and its joy, it is easier to accept the death of others.  We will all come full circle.  Love is never lost.  Your beloved is not gone and you will learn to know him in a new way.

I can tell you from the experience of my own heart how this is true.  I can tell you of my child whom I will ever hold in my heart and in Spirit still hold in my arms and I know we'll meet again in the Circle.  I can tell you of my Lady who fought for life to the last breath and then went so gracefully while I held her in my arms.  There have been many others both two and four legged.  Hoka Hey.  I myself have been with Death and found him a kind companion.

Your own best teacher died and came right back just to show us how Death is just part of the Circle that is Life.  If nothing else I show you here gives you comfort surely His teaching must.

We will have our grief and our pain and our often tears for that is our way.  Yet as beings of Spirit we will come to learn how those gone on still live in Spirit and if we will be open they will still live in our hearts till we join them again.

I do believe that all the other lessons are but pointers to this - Spirit is Love and Love is never lost.

What else could we need to know?

With you in Spirit,

Bill Hawk Watcher