SUM forty tales from the afterlives
My cousin gave me a great book to read by David Eagleman. It is titled SUM, Forty Tales from the Afterlives. I am really excited about this book because it gives a different insite to what, who and why we are. I have always felt a connection to this kind of thinking and I want to share with you one of the tales that had me so enchanted. It is titled METAMORPHISIS.
There are three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.
So you wait in this lobby until the third death. There are long tables with coffe, tea, and cookies; you can help yourself. There are people here from all around the world, and with a little effort you can strike up convivial small talk. Just be aware that your conversations may be interrupted at any moment by the Callers, who broadcast your new friend’s name to indicate that there will never again be another remembrance of him by anyone on the Earth. Your friend slumps, face like a shattered and reglued plate, saddened even though the Callers tell him kindly that he’s off to a better place. No one knows where that better place is or what it offers, because no one exiting through that door has returned to tell us. Tragically, many people leave just as their loved ones arrive, since the loved ones were the only ones doing the remembering. We all wag our heads at that typical timing.
The whole place looks like an infinite airport waiting area. There are many famous people from the history books here. If you get bored, you can strike out in any given direction, past aisles and aisles of seats. After many days of walking, you’ll start to notice that people look different, and you’ll hear the tones of foreign languages. People congregate among their own kind, and one sees the spontaneous emergence of territories that mirror the pattern on the surface of the planet; With the exception of the oceans, you’re traversing a map of the Earth. There are no time zones here. No one sleeps, even though they mostly wish they could. The place is evenly lit by fluorescent lights.
Not everyone is sad when the Callers enter the room and shout out the next list of names. On the contrary, some people beg and plead, prostrating themselves at the Callers’ feet. These are generally the folks who have been here a long time, too long, especially those who are remembered for unfair reasons. For example, take the farmer over there, who drowned in a small river two hundred years ago. Now his farm is the site of a small college, and the tour guides each week tell his story. So he’s stuck and he’s miserable. The more his story is told, the more the details drift. He is utterly alienated from his name; it is no longer identical with him but continues to bind. The cheerless woman across the way is praised as a saint, even though the roads in her heart were complicated. The fray-haired man at the vending machine was lionized as a war hero, then demonized as a warlord, and finally canonized as a necessary firebrand between two moments in history. He waits with aching heart for his statues to fall. And that is the curse of this room: since we live in the heads of those who rememeber us, we lose control of our lives and become who they want us to be.
The memories I have will eventually die with me. I believe that to be true. So does that mean the spirit of those who live inside of my memories can’t move forward into Paradise until I die?? It makes me wonder if I am holding people back by being soo sad about their deaths all the time. Am I holding my Father back? I want him to move forward towards paradise…so drink a cold one for me Dad! LOL
Doug, the floor is yours.
David Eagleman has a vivid imagination it seems. I sincerely hope the afterlife is not as he described. Not sure why anyone would take this seriously.
There is only one way to find out for sure when it comes to the afterlife. God put us here and he will see us through. The best action I can see to take is to stay in touch with him and that usually means listening to that deafening silence.
Connie,
I take this seriously so their is one person for you. I feel like you misunderstand the idea that is being thought of. If all I do is live in the sadness of those that are not physically with me than I am leaving them to wait for their name to be called for the afterlife. It is simply an idea just as your beliefs are an idea. You have no proof of your belief yet I take you seriously. Why not explore the idea that we are a part of something we will never know is the truth?
This is just for you Connie:
“You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.”~Kahlil Gibran
What kind of cookies do they have there?
I feel like we are in that third stage now. Maybe thats why the world is crazy. This place so often feels like that endldless boring wahting room. Maybe we forgot our second stage and we die when we are forgotten in that dimension. I don’t know. Where is MC when you need his bony ass?
My cookie comment was posted at the same time as yours, I mean no disrespect.
I imagine snickerdoodles, or peanutbutter…the soft ones like at Subway. Yummy!! Love you M@
I miss MC as well. Here Kitty Kitty!
That’s an interesting way of looking at it. I’d like to think that every time I think of someone that has gone on before that they know it and it makes them smile and that it is good for me and them for me to have those loving memories but, sad to say, no one really knows how it is over there. Like you say, we each have our own belief system and hopefully that changes as we learn and grow but I do think its fun to imagine. I just really like to think of all the ones I love are together and just living it up! That may or may not be true but thats what gets me through the day.
I’d also add that I do agree its best not to “live in” the sadness of the lost. Grief is a process though and imo, its healthy to “go through” the sadness but not healthy to stay there forever and his idea of if we do THAT then we’re holding our loved ones back, I can kinda see that but, don’t like the idea of holding them back just because I’m thinking of them, especially if its good awesome thoughts. But, of course, its not all about me, so just because I like it or don’t like it, don’t make it so but it is fun to explore the different ideas to me.
MIndy, I meant no disrespect by my comments. Don’t you think it’s good to have your views challenged? I’m not trying to make anyone think the way I do, just letting you know what I thought when I read the words you posted. If you would prefer not to hear comments that challenge you, then you should make this site available only to those who will agree with you.
Connie this is a public site but it is called BoldGrace for a reason. Be Gracious.
Apparently being gracious doesn’t allow for different views? My comments were meant to get people to think about what they say they believe, and not to just swallow hook, line, and sinker everything that someone writes a book proclaiming. When you read something, before you take it seriously, you need to ask “Who is this author and what credentials and experience does he bring to the table?” Perhaps it would have been more gracious to say, “Who is David Eagleman and what credentials and experience does he bring to the table and why should we take him seriously?”
Okay, so I googled David Eagleman. This is a work of fiction. It was never meant to be taken seriously. So, never mind.
While we LOOK at all the theories produced by the vivid imaginings dreamed up from our heads (and anybody else’s), we have taken our gaze OFF REALITY. The truth is within you. But we will never SEE the truth if we continue to look in the wrong direction. Those head-thoughts are imaginings and DO NOT CONTAIN LIFE. You can tell by the feelings it produces - fear, perplexity, mixed emotions. That’s not life - that’s DEATH. JC said ‘let the dead bury the dead’. As Connie said, why would we take this seriously? It’s another ploy to take our eye off the REALITY WITHIN US. This causes us to stumble and become BLIND to what is REAL so we no longer see or feel the REALITY WITHIN US. The only way back is to change direction, go heartward not headward.
.
Okay, let’s take a look at JC, we can learn a lot from what happened to him. What happened while the disciples watched at the Mount of Transfiguration? (any mountain mentioned in the bible refers generally to thought, - higher thought for mountains, lower thought for valleys). The disciples saw with their inner spiritual eye, JC together with Moses and Elijah, having a great conversation together, ‘lifted up’ and in bodies of light. The disciples’ eyes were opened momentarily to the spiritual world. We are told also that we are compassed about with a ‘heavenly host’ - who do you think they might be? (Use your ‘higher- heart’ thought). It’s a simple matter of opening our heart-eye to see this REAL world, the spiritual world. We live instead within the confines of our humanity, and JC calls this life DEATH. Let’s leave the imaginings and go for the real where the truth and LIFE is. We have hardly touched it yet, and we need to keep moving, so who’s ready to go there? I’m so tired of going round in circles, - let’s leave the head-world and go for REALITY. It’s a gift we haven’t even opened yet!
Well its time to party! I now have gone completely, certifiably, unequivocally insane. There is no turning back form this point, so I say party like its 2099.
I realize I had gone over the edge and fallen into the great abyss when MC announced he was starting a great crusade for his new religion. He told me he was going to be Mouslin, and worship the God of Allahcat . He’s been toten around a bible the last three days that he calls The katuran, wearing a little white turban as he sits regally with his tail wrapped around his feet in the morning sun of the east window. The very last straw was when I noticed paw prints on by keyboard, and seen were he was trying to buy a blue burka off catslist for Clucky if she ever returns!
I gave one last feeble attempt to reason with MC, and bring him back to the reality of life before I stepped over the edge. It was when he said “it is better to search for a God anywhere, then to deny him everywhere”
At that point I realized I would rather be insane with a crazy cat, and see him challenged to find love, then to be sane with a normal cat and watch him lay in a dark cold basement waiting on the shadow of a mouse.
love a crazy cat!
love always
Connie said, “David Eagleman has a vivid imagination it seems. I sincerely hope the afterlife is not as he described. Not sure why anyone would take this seriously.”
I responded with:
“Connie,
I take this seriously so their is one person for you. I feel like you misunderstand the idea that is being thought of. If all I do is live in the sadness of those that are not physically with me than I am leaving them to wait for their name to be called for the afterlife. It is simply an idea just as your beliefs are an idea. You have no proof of your belief yet I take you seriously. Why not explore the idea that we are a part of something we will never know is the truth?
This is just for you Connie:
“You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.”~Kahlil Gibran”
I agree that David has a vivid imagination, but when you aren’t sure why anyone would take that seriously I felt the need to tell you that I do? I never asked anyone to agree I just felt the need to tell you that I do take ideas seriously…why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t you? Are you afraid?
If we open our minds and our hearts to each other we may take each other seriously
Mindy, Of course I’m not afraid. Not sure why you would ask that. I was simply confused. Until I googled this, I did not know this was a work of fiction. A work of fiction is just that - fiction. No reason to get off into all the questioning about whether you are holding someone back from Paradise by your sad thoughts. This book is just fiction, after all.
Audrey made sosme valuable points. It’s far better to consider REALITY rather than to spin your wheels with “head-thoughts and imaginings.”
Connie,
By the way…I challenged everyone with this reading by posting it. You are the one that challenged everyone with the question as to why anyone would take it seriously… no need to be gracious on my account…I will love you just as you are just not sure of why you are here sometimes? I love that you are here…just not sure why? Are you searching for something you think you will get here or are you here to save us from others ideas? Can I challenge you with those questions? Love you much
Mindy, To tell you the truth, I visit here because I was invited by your dad and because I love you and your family. I have many pleasant memories from my childhood with Uncle Toody and Aunt Barb, and your dad and Doug and Andy. It’s that simple. I’m not searching for anything here or trying to sell you on anything. Obviously, I don’t fit in, so maybe it’s better if I don’t comment from here on out. Hope you and your family have an exceptional Christmas filled with peace and joy. Love to all!
CUZ, CUZ, CUZ, CUZZZ CUZZZ! Cliff invited you hear so that he, and others could hear your wisdom. I love the fact that you challenge others to see things differently, as did Cliff. I love the fact you speak you mind, as did Cliff, and i know you well enough to know that your heart and mind is always searching for the truth of Gods mystical, and magical plan.
There is no waste of time in trying to know God, maybe you will only say one thing in the rest of your life, that will help one person know the love of God in there heart, or maybe MC will have just one good thought, but i know you OBVIOUSLY do fit in here cuz, and i for one want to hear all that you have to say.
Love Doug
Hear is a few of my thoughts and wonders.
Do you think every time we feel the love of JESUS in our heart, he feels the love he had for all of us as he made that long and painful walk to Calvary?
Do you think that every time we feel the needs of our own pittiful minds, that he feels the pain of that cross.
I dont know, but it dont cost nothing to wounder, and it might cost me one beautiful moment not to.
love always
Do think your spirit just automatically steps into the kingdom of God with your last breath, or could it return over and over, until you feel the kingdom of God before your last breath?
I dont know, but it dont cost me nothing to wonder, and it could cost me an everlasting life in the kingdom of God not to.
love always
MC SAY: As the infidel mices worship the devil god coyote, the Great God allahcat will rain the truth of the sand box (he so loves).
I swear hes plagiarizing my stuff! Im bout ready to stone hime to death!
Dam cat
IT DONT MATTER TO ME IF YOU WANTA WONDER ABOUT EATING COOKIES FOR TWO HUNDRED YEARS, but it dose matter to me if you spend one moment of your time not feeling the ones gone, without feeling the beauty of there spirit.
C
feel Love
I
F
F
Doug
Dam that was suppose to be a cross, hes laughing his ass off at me now!
Y ou know how he is, once hes got an audience, dad jack Norma Joe Amy Abby… oh my I’m screwed now! Not you to Mabel! I’m gonna wear clucky’s burka hide my face, dam its not easy being crazy
love till MC says the parties over.
Family is so important, my cuz knows that. You have family here kid, and i want you to share your every thought. Im probably a little smarter then you Connie, cause i was educated in the north, but ill go easy kid.
Love Doug
MC want to say something….
mc says: tomorrow i will lead my people into the desert, an we wonder for 40 minutes, and only the ones smarter then me will find there way back to the promise land of Meow mix.
OH gOD HELP THAT DAM cat
Doug, I have no doubt you are smarter than I am. Not only were you educated in the north, you’re male. That makes you smarter right off the bat, right?! We gals in the south know our place. Barefoot and pregnant and always jes’ cookin’ up somethin’ in the kitchen. That’s me, all right!
I told you all that i was going to have to say goodbye to Bold Grace, but i didn’t tell you why. I only told my family, but if I’m going to be here any, then i need to think of all of you as my family, so i will share with you, to the best of my ability why i felt a need to go.
This is such a beautiful place it offers the wisdom of minds like Mindy, Bruce, Steve, Connie Audrey, Geo, and many more, but my journey didn’t start to hear any of there wisdom, it began to simply understand a man that was braver then i knew i was.
I walked that lonely path with him until i felt the light of his truth. I cried more tears then you ever saw, and knew i was coming here to feel him, but i was only feeling his loss, and i knew that was wrong.
My heart told me he was so much more then that clay shell he shed, and my pain was in my own selfish pitiful mind, and i needed to feel the truth of his life I felt that i could only do that if i left the place i visited like i would a grave stone in a cemetery.
I told my BGs i would no longer be part of them feeling there loss, and i would only be part of them feeling the truth of his life. I’m not even sure what that means, but i no it doesn’t include self pity, wallowing in pain, or being sad for a beautiful spirit that wants you to dance in the love of his life.
So you got crazy Doug, and one crazy cat.
I say: eat the cookies now, cause you wont hunger for anything later.
Love you all, my friends…
Thats wat Paul said too, cuz
by God im thinkin now that im gonna have that dam woman of mine fry me up some egg sandwiches… hum well maybe not.
dancin in fear of the crazy female gender
Doug
Just remember this cuz, when t call you a bony ass, theres a whole lota love behind it.
love ya kid
its so great that with one punch of the keyboard i can make a freakin farter into a mad cat, I am the great poobah of secret day!
love dah uncle
Don’t look behind the curtain!
I’m wanting to leave a message for my Rootbeer. I dont know if you will ever read this, but hope you do.
From the moment you arrived all you saw was love, from every direction you turned. You were the angel of so many lives, and you blessed all with you pure beauty.
Your Grampa D couldn’t stop smiling, and you just kept dancing in a beauty that would melt the ice polars of the world you lived in.
At two and a half years old you would use these words over and over “I NEED IT” it didn’t matter if i had an old broom in the garage, a spay bottle of water, a sweet pickle, or a pop cycle, you would say “pawpa I need it”, and i would let you have it.
You had an innocent desire for all that life could offer, you “NEEDED IT” you didn’t want it, you didn’t want to own it, you just needed to feel it, taste it, touch it, know it. That was the purity of your heart as a two and a half year old. A purity that your mind will disregard, and perceive as a want, and you will believe your mind, but Grampa D is here to remind you of you heart.
As you walk this earth ROOTBEER to your last breath, remember the purity of your heart like i do, and your own words “I NEED IT”.
The wants in your life will leave you wanting, but the needs in you life well leave you happy. dont ever stop demanding your needs, but deny your wants, except on pawpaw birthday.
Love you Andy
MC SAYS: The truth of a kittens heart begins with its first heartbeat, and ends with its last purrr.
awh yah see why i love him
that’s gotta be the last word
love that cat
Dam his ass he saw where i said that’s the last word, and hes getting drunk with the derelict mice.
The spirit of life begains with the thought of love, is warmed by the conception of life, and dies with the loss of either.
love always
IF YOU WANTA WONDER, tell me how many spirits are there, dose everyone get one, what happens to them, when do they begin, dose an aborted child have one. Dose the spirit in someone that never felt god die?
What part of GRACE DO I need to understand, what part of grace would a 3 day old baby know.. what part of Gods love dose ROOTBEER KNOW?
hOW MYSTICAL IS THE LOVE WE SEEK?
LOVE ALWAYS
one of the reasons I’m here tonight is because i had a brother tell me that what I’m doing is not hurting anyone, and might be helping someone, but what i want is to hear you.
I want you to talk to me like a 20 year old schick razor just shaved your ass with the truth of your heart.
what are we waitin on
what do you have to lose
Doug
My last thought will be about the ones that went before us, the Jacks, the Joes, the toodys, all the ones that know the truth now, all the ones that danced a life of guilt shame fear, and now know the truth.
Do you think they want to share there truth with you? Why wouldn’t they want to? What would stop them? hummmm my ass has been shaved before.
I believe all the truth, and lies in your mind are virtually unimportant to them. I believe all the perfection you seek, all the likeness of god Jesus the holly ghost that you strive to feel in your mind, are a waste of your time.
I dont think God touches your mind. That why this worlds is so messed up. God loves this earth, and he loves us, but he lets us do what we want, and we just keep screwing it up.
The jacks, the Joes, the Toodys, cant touch our minds any more the God can, but i believe that all of them can touch our hearts.
I believe our minds got so messed up after the gracious act of the son of God by man that we cant feel his glorious truth in this life…. maybe… but what do i know … humm.
love Doug
Connie,
I am not one to tell anyone what they should and shouldn’t do. Feel free to comment here when ever you want… no one needs an invitation from me. This isn’t some secret society. I hope that this is a place for anyone to share their thoughts and ideas. I am just sorry you are feeling like you don’t fit in, but that is not my problem that is yours. But you do what you need to do. It isn’t my place to understand why you do what you do, but I will have to say that the reality for me is that we all have our own thoughts and ideas that make us who we are and to explore them is to explore the beauty from within each other. I want to be open to anything even though I know my heart leads me to where it is I am suppose to go. I believe this is a perfect process so why not have some fun while we are here. When anyone has an idea I would like to give them the curtousy of filtering that idea and ask questions which is what you did and I simply answered your question.
MC WANTS THE LAST WORD,, DAM HIS ASS
mc says: Its easier to hack up a hairball, then to swallow a lie.
gezz i need therapy.. can you kill a cat with mouse poision?
dam cat
As you gag on the lies of your days, as you puke on the fears of your nights, as you whine between your moon and your sun, trust the dawn of your heart, taste the truth of tommorrow, and feel the love you need, because you “NEED IT”.
Grampa D
HUMM, my mind can take me from a hapyy little uncle to a whats goin on time,to a stop the B/S Doug, if someone dont feel they fit in then its all of our problem, and we need to help them feel that they are exactaly what we want.
It is the beauty of every spirit that walks this earth that we want to touch, and touch us.
get outta ur mind bg
love always
Hello All
Although I am one of the OBG’S (Original Bold Grace) I have not commented here or posted on a regular basis for a long time. I would like to say as one of that Original 4 and as one of the OBG Grandfather’s here that ALL are welcome to comment and to say ANYTHING as long as it is without slander or hatred. Connie we are pleased and happy that you join us here. We hope that you stay around and add your thoughts but if not we understand. This medium is a very imperfect way of communicating in that we cannot know others tone when they respond and we then filter our thoughts and responses to what we have read through our own joys, hurts, emotions and beliefs. Then when we read what another has responded we become happy, angry or upset etc. My best educated guess is that ALL who participate here if given the chance to sit face to face would feel a closeness that the written word can NEVER provide.
I love you all!!!! And Doug PLEASE stick around!!! I feel the closeness of a brother when I read your words.
Merry Christmas All
Peace
Geo
Love is patient
Love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all thing, endures all things.
Love never fails!
I hope I am learning to love better each day!
That’s why I listen to all of you.
It seems I’ve been holding onto an illusion. Time to let it go. Memories can be beautiful and are to be treasured, but need to be recognized for what they are. Love to all, Connie
Connie, im not sure what that means “Ive been holding on to an illusion”, I can tell you that I love the memories of you and all your sisters and brother, and I like the feeling of you being part of BG. Those memories that we treasure are a big part of who we are, and i know that you, much like me came from a source of beautiful memories, and i hope you will continue to share your thoughts.
Remember, I didn’t buy into many of Cliffs thoughts for over 40 years either, and i loved him more then life itself.
Sometimes the Holidays can be hard, but i want you to know this cousin loves you so much.
Love Doug
Doug said, Do you think they want to share there truth with you? Why wouldn’t they want to? What would stop them?
This is me: Since the passing of my mother, I have wondered so much about the process. I know now that those last few days she was certainly going through some kind of change to get ready for her next life. About 12 hours before she passed, she was desperatley trying to tell me something. Her little voice was Sooooooooo Weak and I’d put my ear right up to her mouth and never could really understand what she was trying to tell me, but, I have no doubt she was trying to tell me something. Her eyes had tears in them. It could have just been I love you and goodbye but I do feel it was more than that. I just got this feeling there was some kind of truth she was trying to share and as far as what sould stop her? I believe for some reason God just does not want us to know till we get to that point. As long as we are still alive and well, that information He does not want out. I could be way off here but thats how it seems to me. So now I have a choice I can continue driving myself crazy wondering what could it have been or I can trust God that the whole thing was a perfect process that happened exactly the way it was suppose to. My belief system does tell me that she is in no pain now and there is nothing but abundunt joy love and peace for her and that gets me through the day!
But, God I miss her! Just like I know you all still miss Cliff. And, I don’t think anyone knows for sure about the afterlife but one thing I believe is for sure is LOVE NEVER FAILS and LOVE really is all that matters. When we love one another all that other crap will work itself out. We’re made up here of so many different personalities, beliefs, looks, cares, concerns but regardless of all that, everyone of us can love each other and I do believe this is a choice and honestly sometimes I choose love and sometimes I choose to hold on to my own rights and beliefs. As I get older and more mature hopefully, it makes much more sense to choose love because my stinking rights and beliefs are absolutley NOTHING without LOVE
Luv you all
Lisa
Doug asks: Do you think every time we feel the love of JESUS in our heart, he feels the love he had for all of us as he made that long and painful walk to Calvary?
Do you think that every time we feel the needs of our own pittiful minds, that he feels the pain of that cross.
This is me: I’ve wondered those very same questions. And asked myself, what is it He REALLY wants or expects from me? Is there ANYTHING I am to do or say that will make what He did all worth it? The only answer I can come up with again is LOVE! Get out of myself, like He did, and think of others. Get out of my own way so God can work. For me, its about surrender, this has been so very hard for me lately, to surrender my will to His but I do trust Him that in His time it will all be as it is suppose to, maybe it is even now, it just doesn’t “feel” right or comfortable, hence getting out of my comfort zone. I’m sorry I’m just rambling but besides dealing with my moms death, I’m having some very heavy issues concerning my daughter and grandchildren, trying to do the tough love thing. Lately, I’ve just been thinking of the prodical son and how God did just give him his inheritance and then just let him blow it and God never ran chasing after him in the pig pen but waited patiently for the son to come back and say, I’m not even worthy to be your servant and then The Father kills the fatted calf, puts on the robe and ring. That’s what I’m waiting to do but I can’t go to the pig pen, I must wait and watch.
I think your on the right path Lisa, keep listening to that beautiful heart of yours,and it will take you places you cant imagine.
love ya Doug
Thanks Doug! I love hearing your thoughts and opinions on it all and that dam cat always keeps me coming back for more!