Category Archives: Death

What’s beyond the door

Posted on January 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A.M. Hunter used to tell the story of a man suffering from a terminal illness, who asked his doctor to tell him about what lay ahead for him after he died. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Faith, Heaven, Trust in God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cape of Storms

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The southernmost point of Africa was for centuries known as the “Cape of Storms”. But then, in the sixteenth century, Vasco De Gama, successfully sailed around it and found beyond the raging storms a great calm sea, and beyond that … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Despair, Faith, Grace, Hope, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual discernment | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Comfort through a cat

Posted on December 15, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

At the Steer House Nursing Home in Providence, Rhode Island, a cat named Oscar provides a unique service to the residents of the dementia unit. He makes regular rounds, hopping onto patients’ beds, purring and snuggling up to people before … Continue reading →

Posted in Cat, Death, Eternity, Faith, Fear, Healing, Heaven, Hope, Hope of Glory, Spiritual comfort | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The end of the beginning

Posted on October 23, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Victor Hugo, just before he died, wrote: ‘Within my soul I feel the evidence of my future life. I am like a forest that has been cut down more than once, yet the new growth has more life than ever. … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance, Death, Faith, Hope, Hope of Glory, Life, Life's journey | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fool’s cap

Posted on October 6, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old story about a King who appointed a new court jester and was so pleased with him that he gave him a special fool’s cap to wear as a symbol of his ability.The king told him to wear … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Foolishness, Life's journey | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Hope springs eternal

Posted on October 6, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Alexander Pope wrote: “Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always to be blessed.” But where does man turn when hope dries up? The director of a medical clinic told of a young man who was … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Eternity, Faith, Hope | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lost forever

Posted on September 3, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

When the American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar died, his mother opened his home in Dayton, Ohio, to the public, so that people from all walks of life could come experience his life, even though he was no longer alive. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Living Life, Memorials, Mourning, Shrines | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

No pockets in a shroud

Posted on August 29, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

John D. Rockefeller used to be the world’s richest man. He was once asked how much a person needed to be happy; and with great insight into human nature, he replied: ‘Just a little bit more.’ After his death, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Futility, Heaven, Treasure, wealth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Virtual reality is a poor substitute

Posted on August 29, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The American Congress, a few years ago, passed a law that entitles deceased war veterans to have a bugler play at their funerals. However there’s a problem; there are very few buglers around these days. So Congress decreed that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, funerals, Substitutes, Virtual reality | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Light of Life

Posted on June 15, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Just before his death Mark Twain wrote: “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; they squabble and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; those they … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Futility, Hope, Light of Life, Meaninglessness | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment