Obituaries

“On the Death of the Beloved” by John O’Donohue.

Though we need to weep your loss,

You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,

Where no storm or night or pain can reach you

Let us not look for you only in memory,

Where we would grow lonely without you.

You would want us to find you in presence,

Beside us when beauty brightens,

When kindness glows

And music echoes eternal tones.

Philosopher and poet John O’Donohue has a gift with his words that can best be described through this quote by Martin Wroe: “[John O’Donohue] believed that it is within our power to transform our fear of death so that we need fear little else this life brings.” Just like the poem above, the pain we feel is truly powerful in the sense that it can move mountains and change the world. It’s important not to forget that.