This week I watched the movie "The Way", with Martin Sheen, about the Camino de Santiago. I had no expectations about the movie and happened to like it. Both the story and characters were interesting. It made me remember the feelings I had when we travelled with my mother's ashes some years ago (Oct.1958-July 2006). It was a journey by car and it did feel as if we were 3 instead of 2 people there and there was some kind of worrying when we left the car to have some rest or to get something to eat and the ashes remained there.
Somebody's ashes are a mere physical embodiment of the memory of the deceased person...but once the ashes are placed somewhere else and are no longer with us, the presence of the dead one seems to change and expand itself. That one who left this world seems to be wherever we go. That subjective presence becomes a source of protection, solace, strength, replacing, sooner or later, sadness and mourning.
Somebody's ashes are a mere physical embodiment of the memory of the deceased person...but once the ashes are placed somewhere else and are no longer with us, the presence of the dead one seems to change and expand itself. That one who left this world seems to be wherever we go. That subjective presence becomes a source of protection, solace, strength, replacing, sooner or later, sadness and mourning.