To Die is to Gain
Friday, December 2nd, 2005Yesterday, I read a Filipina-Australian blogger’s personal thoughts on a fellow Australian who was about to be hanged in Singapore for possessing heroin. Later, I find out that the man, Nguyen Tuong Van, was at peace with his execution because of “an opportunity of self-discovery made possible upon (his) conception of God and Jesus Christ into (his) life.” His last moments with his loved ones were spent consoling them, instead of the other way around. Coincidentally, my Bible reading for yesterday included a passage where St. Paul says his last goodbyes to the Church of Ephesus before his impending imprisonment and execution, saying, “but I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course.” Earlier he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain… having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”