In the two broad categories of being—living and deceased—assuming we accept eternity as a location, or state, of being—there is a connection, however incommunicable, where the living can pay their humble respects for thought of the deceased.
The moment’s silence is a sombre minute or so of reflection for those who gave their lives in events that would ensure, for them at least, age—so long as eternal life in this world is considered—would not weary them.
We are reminded of the solemnity of such an occasion:
“It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
... to sit alone in silence
when the Lord has imposed it...”
~Lamentations 3:26, 28 (NRSV)
Such occasions remind us, even for one single moment in time, that there is more to life than our greedy, conscious, self-absorbed thoughts.
There is a cherished sacredness to life that must be respected. Such moments remind us that, even though we are not in exile, we are exiled away from our true home, for this time, whilst we occasion our presence upon planet Earth. Our truest sense of salvation stands some distance off yet, unlike those of others whom have since flown.
Understanding The Significance Of Life And Death
Perhaps at no other time are the living and dead so connected as in the honoured minute of silence for the reflection of remembrance—where we decide, in obedience to God, that we shall wait quietly for fresh cognisance of our salvation by the fact of those having gone before us.
We should honour them. They are in a place we know nothing of, yet. Having made the transition from this temporal life into the permanence of eternity they have some knowledge of the face of God—something we can only wonder about.
Thinking about death, and pertinently, the immanence of our own deaths sometime in the future, we are serendipitously blessed with fresh portions of an enhanced conscious vision of momentary life, here; appreciation has lent to us the gentle provision of the face of the Lord—significance and purpose for living now.
Knowing life in this life is weighing the eternal significance of life versus death—in all manner of speaking, imagining life at all realms. And again, we are connecting with those who have passed, and perhaps even with those who have not yet arrived.
***
What is an ethereal subject is helping us honour the sacredness of life.
When we take moments of respectful silence, connecting ourselves with God, we redeem memories and enjoy thoughts that the Lord wants us to be cognisant of. We think of those who have passed, and what they brought to our lives and life in general.
As we think we honour them and our ancestry.
It is the will of God that we honour the past as much as hope for the future, whilst we enjoy the fullness of the present moment. Moments of respectful silence provide for the cherishing of such fullness within thought for the past, present, and future of life.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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