In Richard Rohr’s book of daily meditations, A Spring Within Us, the author makes the point that “Love is where we are from, and love is where we are going. When we live in love we will not be afraid to die. We have built a bridge between worlds. As Paul says, “Love does not come to an end” and “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 12:8, 13).

These words came to me recently when I heard that one of my good friends is now on hospice. I called him and we chatted briefly after saying our ‘good-byes.’ It was so hard to let him go. Someone in the room asked if he was afraid to die. He said, ‘No.’ That did not surprise me because he was all about love, love for God and love for others.

As Richard said, “You must die into your one and only life, the Life that you must learn to love.”

“Once death is incorporated into life, you are already in heaven.”

My hope is that my friend will know in his core that he is treasured and hidden in God without end.

“If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God.” (Romans 14:8)