~by Father Ron Camarda

A few weeks ago

I went to visit Edgar

who was declining at the hospital

He didn’t seem to have much life

as in weeks

Body was shutting down.

Yesterday, just before Mass

Josie told me he would die that day

I told her we would pray

And then go after praising the Lord

.

So we praised the Lord, Our Beloved Jesus

.

I thank you God for my truck

It brought us safely

Josie and I shared how

we were not afraid of death

We both had brushed up against it,

peace and warmth

We remembered her husband, Jim,

two years ago when I was there

We enjoyed the ride.

Josie and I journeyed through the bereavement,

such good women at St. Patrick’s Church

Edgar wasn’t Catholic

But he always paved the way

for his beloved wife of 50 years and their children

The children went through our school

So here we were

gathered around Edgar’s deathbed

Renewed their vows

sang songs of love

kissed his ravished body

The Beloved is our Light and Salvation

of whom should we be afraid?

.

We peeked into heaven…

Edgar was leaving promptly

When I anointed Edgar,

I felt such a warmth

He smiled the best he could

Then, when I anointed his beloved Margaret…

I sensed that him leave his body

.

Their Marriage has left

yet it still remains

Heaven and Earth

together

Earth giving way to Heaven

This isn’t exactly romantic

but beyond comprehension

All the Spirit asked me to do

was to move her hand toward his

and clear the path for

their lips to lock and let go

.

Love, poverty of life, joy

.

You see, just before we die

we are the poorest of the poor

When our loved ones die

we are so poor and desperate

because we love to love

and need the food produced when we

love one another

.

God you are magnificent,

to create us in your image

breath,

beat,

blood

.

Sing praises, Dance Eternal

Alive

A love

Alone

All One!

.

Suffer, we do

Die, we will

Rise, we are

In love

In joy

In peace… Alleluia!

.

Father Ron Camarda – 2004

Love, joy, peace,

Father Ron Moses +

www.tearinthedesert.com

Father Ron Camarda is a retired Naval Chaplain and author of “Tear in the Desert,” a powerful book containing his memoirs of life and death at the Battle for Fallujah. Father Ron appears on EWTN and recently won the Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America.