“When a man dies, will he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.”
Job 14:14
Does Death Have the Final Word?
One morning, my wife and I set out for Loch Lomond, drawn by the dual promise of celestial splendour and dawn's first light breaking over the rugged highlands. It's our Smultronställe; the place for joy, reflection and nostalgia. Our trip was spurred by something more urgent than mere wanderlust—my diagnosis with terminal cancer, which has sharpened our focus on seizing the moments that remain.
Loch Lomond isn't just a place of natural beauty; it's a sanctuary where each vista and shifting cloud seems orchestrated to remind us of life's transient, precious nature. As the night sky surrendered to sunrise, I felt a profound connection to the Creator, an assurance that despite the uncertainties of my health, there remains a greater plan at work.
During our visit, the echoes of "Loch Lomond" filled my mind—the haunting lyrics about parting ways, taking different roads through life and beyond. "O you'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road, and I'll be in Scotland before you." The song, a poignant anthem of farewell, resonated deeply, reflecting our current crossroads. It was as if the high road was my impending journey beyond this life, while the low road was the here and now with my wife.
This melody, which has always stirred the soul, now underscored our experience with its profound symbolism. It wasn't just background music; it was a narrative woven into the fabric of our visit, a narrative about love, parting, and the passages we all must navigate. My thoughts wandered into the Bible character Job who delt that death was pending and asked rhetorically, “When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.” There goes the answer; a period in the future described as renewal.
Standing there, with the dawn light washing over the loch and mountains, I was struck by a mix of grief and gratitude. Grief, for the days that will be no more, and gratitude for the immeasurable beauty and joy that have filled my days. Each moment by the loch was a moment stolen back from fate, a declaration that even in the face of life's end, we can find reasons to cherish and celebrate.
Our journey back home was quiet, reflective. We spoke little, but our hands found each other often, a silent language of support and mutual strength. The road, both literal and metaphorical, stretched out before us, each mile a step towards whatever awaits.
As we navigate this chapter, the lesson of Loch Lomond remains with us: to embrace each day with vigour, to find solace in nature's embrace, and to love fiercely in the face of the unknown. Even as I consider the roads we take—the high ones and the low—the journey is as beautiful as it is heart-breaking, filled with the promise of love’s enduring presence.
And the song: (4) RUNRIG - Loch Lomond (Live In Balloch) Full Version - YouTube
