March: On Death

March 20

Today's reflection was inspired by John Donne's poem "No Man Is an Island."

Every day you see stats in the news, jumbling up human lives into a number or a point on a graph.

But you must remember that each point on the graph, each number in a headline was a human being—just like you. They had friends and family and dreams and hopes and struggles and pains—just like you. 

Some of them had the potential to change the world. Some of them did change the world. And even if they didn’t, that doesn’t make their life any less important. 

Death is a part of life, yes, but we must remember that despite our differences, we are all one people—and the human race and human experience is diminished by even the loss of one of us. Just as it will be diminished by your absence when the bell inevitably tolls for thee.

• Reflection title: More Than Just A Number
• Creative inspiration: John Donne, "No Man Is an Island"
• Reflection Question: Do I exist on an island? How can I strive to better understand my place on the broad continent of humanity?