Death - the twin brother of Life

DEATH is one subject that most people shun. They think it is something avoidable or they are just plain superstitious.
Death is as normal as the sun rising at the break of dawn. For something to be born anew, to replenish, to rejuvenate, there must be death. Death taken in its singular context of the end of what is triggers thoughts of gloom, darkness and a finality that can't be overcome.
All my life, I have encountered Death. I experienced it at first hand when I was a first-year student at university when a colleague was killed in an accident. He was 21 at that time. I was one of the pall bearers.
Then through the years, friends and loved ones passed away one after another. After a while, it became rather normal.
Despite knowing that death is very much part of our lives, we strive our best to delay its arrival, or premature visit. Ninety-nine out of 100 people are afraid to die. To them, death means lost opportunities, of achieving great deeds, of making significant contributions, of leaving loved ones behind, of departing "before their time", etc.
Basically, people just don't want to die. That's sounds rather silly and yet it is only too real a feeling. So what is Eternity going to do? Nothing really, just let Nature takes its course.
A friend died only 48 hours ago. One day he was there, real as Life itself, next day, news of his sudden death appeared in the daily newspaper. It came as a shock even though as people governed by logic, we shouldn't be surprised. But surprised we all are.
My friend's death brought to the surface once again of how frail our existence is. We long to live a good life. We want to get mileage out of our journey on earth but we deliberately ignore the fact that we will perish like everything else that is living in one form or another.
Why do humans fear Death so much? Is it something that is bad for us? Is it something that will hurt us? The answers to both preceding questions are No.
We read of accounts by people who have had Near Death Experiences. Almost all said there was nothing to fear, and it was actually quite pleasant.
In fact, most of them didn't want to return to the land of the living but they were told that "it was not their time". When is it really anybody's time? What shall we do in the meantime.
The answer lies in how we live and how well we conduct matters while we are still breathing. Death by all acounts is not the Grim Reaper. Neither is he Joe Black as Hollywood has described him.
Death is just another name for that bridge that links us to our real home. It is the tunnel that leads us to our real existence. On earth, it is the kind of stuff that dreams are made of.
After all that is said and done, how should we treat Death? We should treat it like a friend. We should look upon Death as a person who comes to welcome us to the world which we heard about but do not have the courage to venture into.
Death is the friend we should get to know but have always shunned. He's probably the kindest among the whole lot on earth. Death knows no pain, knows no sorrow and no attachment to all things unimportant.
Death seeks nothing, gives everything, is merciful, and is the conduit that leads others to a world that they deserve but do not crave for while on earth.
Death is the twin brother of Life. If you do not know Life, you will certainly know very little of Death. If you hold life dear to your heart, you may catch a glimpse of Death.
But do not welcome Death. He is not one that takes orders. Death liaises with Eternity. Death counsels the terminally ill and weary. Life teaches us to appreciate all that is given to us. Death teaches us that Life has got a place in our hearts but Death will always have our interests in eternity.