The Chicken or the Egg.

Yesterday, I attended the celebration of life for my friend’s father. As I sat in the congregation, I listened to the language the officiant used to describe where we go when we pass:

“There is a room in the Lord’s house already set for us to come home,”
“We leave this physical world,”
“We ascend to heaven.”

It got me thinking.

What came first—the chicken or the egg? Is the grief I’m experiencing a result of the words I’ve heard to describe death? Or are the words I’ve heard an expression of the grief I’m feeling? Or is it something else altogether?

I realized that some religions frame our passing in very human terms: we’re either here or there. As mortals, we can’t be in two places at once (as much as we might wish we could). There’s also often a clear division between the physical world and the divine. Personally, I feel this is a false dichotomy.

What if we viewed our passing in more spiritual terms? What if our spirit could exist in multiple places at once—resting in the house of the Lord, sitting right beside us, and watching over our friends and family all at the same time?

There’s a philosophy in improv theater called “Yes, and...” Whenever a new element is introduced to the story, you respond with “Yes, and...” to accept and build on it, allowing the story to move forward.

Using “Yes, and...” allows me to embrace the teachings of my religion while also allowing space for my own spiritual beliefs to move my story forward.