Question & Answer

 
Q: By A Reader

People say “rest in peace” after someone has died. But, do people really get to rest after death?

A: By Toni Anne Reynolds

Dear One,

There is lots of talk of ancestors, and healing ancestral lines these days. As people become aware of how cyclical oppression and suffering is, there seems to be a collective desire to get to the root of the issue. During my days as a Christian, the closest I got to a sense of realizing the ancestors was when “The Cloud of Witnesses” was talked about. The image that came to mind for me then was one of every great person sitting in the sky looking down. Catching the prayers we sent up and consequently finding ways to help us help ourselves. I even found myself imagining that angels would zip through the ether, diligently protecting God’s Creatures. Somehow, I never questioned whether or not these active agents had peace, and it never occurred to me that they may not be resting…

This question makes me think of the way productivity and work require a kind of rest that is unattainable. In this life, we are often pressured to work ‘til we drop. Living to work instead of working to live. It makes sense, then, that idea of entering a realm where there are no to-do lists or demands to be productive, can be liberating all by itself. A realm where peace and rest are inevitable. I’m sorry that I cannot say for sure if any of us will find rest, even in my own mind the forces that we call on for assistance are doing quite a bit. It makes me wonder if this doubt, this question, could form in a world where we were truly free while alive in these bodies. In other words, I wonder if we say this phrase, we are blessing the deceased with something we don’t feel we have access to ourselves. So, if we are able to access it, what do we start to desire for those who are free of the body? Does the potential for REAL rest become more feasible for us after we’ve known what it means to rest just a little bit before we die? I will join you in pondering this question. Maybe these two sources will help you along the way: linktr.ee/dr.rosalesmeza and https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/

~ Toni Anne Reynolds

*** This Q&A was originally published on Progressing Spirit – As a member of this online community, you’ll receive insightful weekly essays, access to all of the essay archives (including all of Bishop John Shelby Spong), and answers to your questions in our free weekly Q&A. Click here to see free sample essays.

About the Author
Minister Toni Anne Reynolds is committed to singing flesh onto the bones of the Christian tradition by incorporating recently found texts of the ancient world into liturgy, sermons, and poetry. Toni’s Christianity forms a holy trinity with the psychological medicine of Tibetan Buddhism and the eternal Life found in Yoruba traditions. Balanced in an eclectic faith and focused in theology, Toni’s ministry offers a unique perspective on life, theology, and spirituality.