Today, May 29, 2025, is Ascension Thursday, the day that Christians commemorate Jesus’ return to heaven. I admit it’s one of my favorite Christian celebrations because the subject of what lies beyond this world has always intrigued me. I usually mark the day exploring various theories, customs, and rituals concerning what happens after death. The last few years, I have included listening to podcasts about the afterlife. This year is no exception, but I am also taking the opportunity to recommend that you also reflect on what you believe will happen to you after your death. More importantly, I encourage you to share your thoughts, explorations and beliefs with those you love.

When helping a family plan a memorial service or celebration of life for a loved one, one of the questions I ask is, “What did s/he believe about what would happen to them after life?” Almost all people have the same answer, “I don’t know, we never talked about it.” The second most common answer is “They believed in heaven.” When I probe a bit further about their  loved one’s concept of  heaven, the conversation often circles back to “I really don’t know, we just never talked about it beyond their belief that they were going there.”  

So many people I serve wish they had a conversation with their loved ones about the afterlife. Such a discussion would have given them the reassurance needed for the plans they were arranging. Where there is no conversation, people often have no idea if they should include prayers, poems, or references to an afterlife in the celebration. As a minister, I am careful not to include references that would offend the deceased or their family. Knowing the beliefs of the deceased is therefore valuable to me. In cases of an unanticipated or tragic death, loved ones often experience additional upset because they are so unsure of what the decedent would want. Conversely, knowing what someone believed gives their survivors reassurance and peace. Because I have encountered so many people who have been left wondering what their loved one would want, my prevailing opinion is that we need to talk about it. The National Funeral Directors Association has a great program to guide people who want to have a conversation; it is called The Talk of A Lifetime^©. This link can help you learn more about helpful conversations about life and death.

https://www.rememberingalife.com/pages/have-the-talk-of-a-lifetime

None of us knows for sure what follows this life and we won’t know until it is our turn to pass from this mortal life. Educating ourselves on the possibilities, reading from the masters of philosophy, science, and religion can be a good start for contemplating what we believe. Some notable sources include the scriptures or holy written works of your espoused religion, or books by mediums who regularly connect with people on the other side of the earthly plane. Books or articles that address scientific research such as Life After Life: A Groundbreaking Exploration of Near-Death Experiences and the Transformative Insights into the Afterlife, Backed by Scientific Study and Personal Testimonies, or podcasts that address specific topics such as purgatory and heaven are also a good place to start. It’s good to begin with a question or area you find interesting. Death and the afterlife are by nature heavy topics, but there are many authors, artists and teachers who have mastered the gift of simplicity in talking about these inexplicable topics.

USE THE COMMENT BOX AT THE END OF THIS POST TO ENTER A RESOURCE THAT YOU HAVE FOUND HELPFUL IN CLARIFYING YOUR IDEAS ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE.  IT CAN BE A BOOK, ARTICLE, MOVIE, A PERSON, OR A MOVIE.