It’s a thread that’s been done probably hundreds of times before (with famous or historical figures), but here’s the twist:
In (radio host & author of “Tuesdays with Morrie”) Mitch Albom’s new book entitled “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” the reader is taken on a surreal journey through the passing the an unaccomplished amusement park ride mechanic. Upon his accidental death, the main character discovers heaven is not a utopian Garden of Eden – but rather a place where you meet the 5 people who had the most direct effect on your life.
The departed 83 year-old widower, named Eddy, meets 5 people in his afterlife whom he never would have imagined meant much to him during his time on earth. After meeting the fifth person, he discovers his life did have value and comes to learn people are all interconnected in some way or another.
I’ll be the first to admit I rarely read non-fiction. But when I come across something that will cause me to reflect on my life, I’ll devour it.
I’ve given some thought to Albom’s premise and quite frankly; I’m at a loss. If I were to die tomorrow, I can honestly state I can’t think of 1 (let alone 5) departed individuals who have had a major impact on my life. Granted, there have been countless people (some who have passed, some I’ve lost contact with and others who are still very much alive) that I’ve admired and learned from - but not to the extent that I could definitively say altered my life in any ground shaking way. The best I could come up with is:[ul]
[li]Mrs. Van Somethin-or-Other: The elderly lady who lived in the downstairs apartment until we moved when I was 4. My memories of her are vague, almost dreamlike. She exemplified a sweetness and kindness that most amongst us could only aspire to. []Fr. Herman Peter Jacob Schraam: The Episcopalian priest from the Fisherman’s Church down the block from where I grew up. Though labeled a sot by some of the puritans in town, he taught me life is for living – to be enjoyed and made the most of. Contrary to his craft, he showed me spirituality wasn’t taught from a book or handed down from on high – that it was something unique to each individual soul.[]John Held – I can’t believe it’ll be 15 years since he died in a motorcycle accident. We were just kids, not even 22. Though I hate to admit this, his dying taught me more than all my living friends have combined. I guess tragedy’s only asset is its ability to teach.Ms. Schwartz – My 8th grade English teacher who I can only hope and assume is still very much alive. She taught me more than any teacher I had before or since. It’s rare to find an educator who showed the interest and concern she did, in a style that could only be defined as “I’ll show you the basics & leave the rest for you to discover.”[/ul][/li]
Talk about your brick walls. Four was the best I could muster without stretching. I’m fortunate as to have never lost a past love or close relative. The 3 grandparents I’ve known my whole life are getting older, but are all still here. Even if they weren’t, I seriously doubt they’d make my list. As callous as that sounds, I really don’t consider my relationship with any of them all that pivotal in the grand scheme of things. My kids, of course, have had the greatest effect on my life. I wouldn’t even entertain the thought of losing them – for that, in and of itself, would kill me.
As I wrote this, a nagging thought kept going through my mind. It might appear these thoughts are a little too private – something to blog, not post to a message board in the form of a poll. I have, however, posed this same question to several friends who’ve offered some unique perspectives. Surprisingly, almost all of them had the same difficulty in coming up with five individuals for this fictional premise.
Please note: I used the word fictional because that is what it is. If you feel a need to opine on religion, spirituality or the afterlife – there are probably other threads and forums in which to do so.
I guess the one thing anyone who gives serious thought the question: Which 5 deceased individuals have most affected you life will, at a minimum, have a chance to reflect on what is good in life. Those who continually ponder the thought might see how they themselves have had an effect on others. In either case, it can’t hurt.