by Bob Stealey

Editor

When a person loses someone very close and dear to death, it is a sad time, to be sure. The bereaved individual may feel as if he or she cannot go on, that things will never be the same. It is a troublesome time, without a doubt.

Yet somehow, somewhere in the far reaches of one's heart and soul, the departed is still present, only in a much broader way -- a way that only some dare to explore.

I am reminded of a very prominent figure in history who knew he was about to die and suggested to his closest associates to not weep and be mournful, because by his passing, he would still be among them -- not in a physical sense, but a much more omnipresent one.

A far-out idea, you think? Maybe. It's likely as least as difficult to understand as it is to learn how faith itself works.

When a relative or dear friend passes on, it's true -- you don't see that person in the physical sense. But he or she is there.

This may be a crude analogy, but perhaps you could look at it this way. You hear a song on the radio that you really like. Maybe you whistle it all day, or hum it, or even sing it to yourself, even though it's not airing over the radio waves just this minute. Still, it sticks with you. You can't get it out of your head nor your heart. It lingers!

Sometimes that's the way Madison Avenue ad executives think. They conjure up a clever, tuneful little jingle ... then produce it for a sponsor. The sponsor plays it on all the networks and stations, and sooner or later, people are humming or whistling the tune, then eventually singing the lyrics. The association between the tune and the product or service has been made. It's in your mind for keeps!

As I said, that may be a rather rough analogy. But a person is so much more special than a song or a jingle. A huge difference there, like comparing watermelons to persimmons when you think of the magnitude of the subject matter.

'Though a song isn't packaged in flesh and blood and does not love you back, you can love it and never lose it. So think of how much greater it is to think of your recently departed and something that he/she really enjoyed doing. If a song stays with you for as long as you desire, then picture the individual as doing whatever he/she enjoyed so much when still living in this realm -- how much longer and dearer that soul image would be ... until at last you are reunited for eternity.

Diogenes, put out that lantern!

I am happy to report that there are still honest people left in the world. I know that Genevieve Arnold of Route 2, Box 603, Clarksburg, must agree. Last Saturday, she lost her black purse in K-mart. It contained a billfold. The billfold contained approximately $300 in cash and a signed check that had been made out to K-mart.

Lo and behold, she received a call from K-mart personnel to say that an individual had turned in her purse. The billfold was still inside, and the cash and the check were inside the billfold.

Mrs. Arnold would like to personally thank the individual who did the right thing and turned in her purse. Her phone number is 622-4895. And my hat is off to the finder.

Exponent-Telegram Editor Bob Stealey can be reached by phone at (304) 626-1438, or by e-mail at rstealey@exponent-telegram.com.