Posted on Aug 19, 2015
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I had this question on my mind the past few days after I learned that someone I went to high school with suddenly past out while at work and never recovered. He passed away at the age of 34 on Monday, August 17, 2015 and right now the answer as to why is yet to be resolved.
But, the question I'm asking comes from the fact that while I was not very close to this classmate and my thoughts are with his family during this awful time, I didn't find myself reacting like some of my other classmates. We graduated from a small high school in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. There were about 115 students in our class so while we weren't each others best friends, we all knew each other more than some bigger schools. We grew up together and took part in a lot of school activities together so of course the news of someone passing away caused us all to stop. Yet, I saw some of my classmates taking it really hard. Harder than I expected and when asked for my reaction, I wasn't that upset. I've seen friends die before, heck I'm sure a lot of people on RallyPoint have had a friend or family member pass away. Yet what strikes me personally is that I was more moved by the news of the deaths of random service members than I was my own classmate. I in no way feel as though my classmate's life was worth any less than any one else. He had the world in front of him. In fact, this happened on the same day he started a new job that he was super excited about.
But it got me thinking to myself, am I just void of emotion because of what I saw in the military or do I just process death differently now? Is my reaction to the passing of my classmate normal or am I just avoiding something by pretending it is no big deal? Has anyone of my fellow brothers and/or sisters-in-arms every felt like this?
But, the question I'm asking comes from the fact that while I was not very close to this classmate and my thoughts are with his family during this awful time, I didn't find myself reacting like some of my other classmates. We graduated from a small high school in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. There were about 115 students in our class so while we weren't each others best friends, we all knew each other more than some bigger schools. We grew up together and took part in a lot of school activities together so of course the news of someone passing away caused us all to stop. Yet, I saw some of my classmates taking it really hard. Harder than I expected and when asked for my reaction, I wasn't that upset. I've seen friends die before, heck I'm sure a lot of people on RallyPoint have had a friend or family member pass away. Yet what strikes me personally is that I was more moved by the news of the deaths of random service members than I was my own classmate. I in no way feel as though my classmate's life was worth any less than any one else. He had the world in front of him. In fact, this happened on the same day he started a new job that he was super excited about.
But it got me thinking to myself, am I just void of emotion because of what I saw in the military or do I just process death differently now? Is my reaction to the passing of my classmate normal or am I just avoiding something by pretending it is no big deal? Has anyone of my fellow brothers and/or sisters-in-arms every felt like this?
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Death
Death
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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SGT Ben Keen, grief is left to the living. Grief is an important process to work though. If we yield to it, the tears, anger, pain will eventually be replaced by tears, joy and fond memories of the good times we shared with the person who passed.
I saw the Lord sovereignty raise a dead infant in my arms in 1991. I have spent time visiting the dying who had a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ and those without. For those of us who know the Lord, death is not as terrifying as it is for those who have no hope.
God never provides a grace before we need it. Dying grace is provided to all who know Him. I have seen it on many occasions and I look forward to a future time when He will grant me that grace in the fullness of time.
MAJ (Join to see), CH (MAJ) William Beaver, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SGT (Join to see), SGT Randal Groover, SGT Robert Hawks, SGT Forrest Stewart
I saw the Lord sovereignty raise a dead infant in my arms in 1991. I have spent time visiting the dying who had a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ and those without. For those of us who know the Lord, death is not as terrifying as it is for those who have no hope.
God never provides a grace before we need it. Dying grace is provided to all who know Him. I have seen it on many occasions and I look forward to a future time when He will grant me that grace in the fullness of time.
MAJ (Join to see), CH (MAJ) William Beaver, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", SGT (Join to see), SGT Randal Groover, SGT Robert Hawks, SGT Forrest Stewart
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My 75 year old father died this April. Sure I miss is smile, his voice, and have had many dreams of him where he is smiling and talking to me, but I was not devastated. I attribute this to knowing he had a damn good life, and death is a natural order to life.
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SGt Ben Keen, Having friends expire at an early age always has a sobering effect on a person. A friend's death can also cause one to speed up working on your bucket list!
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