Tuesday, December 28, 2010

First and Final Breath


There is much to be learned from the miracle of birth and death. 

Both are challenging, awakening, and humbling.   

Both expand our limited ability to see beyond the brevity and beauty of human life.

William Wordsworth wrote that babies come into the world trailing clouds of glory.  The dying hold the same cloud and ride it home.  


Photographer Sarah Robertson of Image Bearer's Photography, captured the first and final breath of Paul Perkins who's heart beat for less than an hour and a half.  During that time he was surrounded by love.




Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:



The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come  





This video was featured on Life with Kaison, "a place filled with happiness and love"


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23 comments:

  1. OMG, those images are breath taking! Wait...

    Now, hope you got your returning done and I'm sensing a return of the Monkey (big smile)!
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  2. I've never seen anything so moving. Thank you for sharing this.

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  3. This video brought tears of hope. I have envisioned and hoped without knowing for certain that my son who died was as lovingly welcomed Home when he passed through the veil and left mortality behind. Oh how I hope. ~Rayo

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  4. Hello! I was here, asking for friendship. ;) Would you like to follow each others blogs? Advance Happy New Year. :D

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  5. Unbeliveably moving. Thanks for posting it.

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  6. wow. that was truly beautiful. thank you so much for posting this. I was overcome with the beauty of the mothers smile through what had to be such agony.

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  7. What a sad situation.... that Family is truly blessed to only see the best and to celebrate life, no matter how short.

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  8. I agree with the others, a very moving post. Good to see you back online and happy holidays to you and yours!

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  9. These parents are so brave to be able to celebrate their son's life, no matter how short it is.

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  10. I was curious if people would read this and watch the video, because of the title. CONGRATULATIONS to each of you for having the courage to face your fears. Death...is the beginning of a new adventure! and LOVE is our greatest gift.

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  11. Very warm... Beautiful words by one of my favorites...
    Wish you a very Happy New Year Shannon:)

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  12. I admire the valuable information and facts you provide inside your articles or blog posts.

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  13. Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state. There is as little reason to deplore the one as there is to be pleased over the other.

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  15. There is much to be learned from the miracle of birth and death.

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Shannon E. Kennedy

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Photo by Joan Harrison