Yesterday I celebrated the birthday of my identical twin and I. Unfortunately—or for my twin Doris fortunately—my twin died of a freak accident at age 2 ½. I reflected on the fact that a fertilized egg split into two human beings: two persons who looked very much alike—I am told it was difficult to tell us apart and relatives who view pictures of us as toddlers and think they know who is who will say: “You were skinnier than Doris.” Perhaps because I only weighed 2 ½ lbs when I was born and she 3. That I survived birth was not expected and yet in the mystery of life I am here and Doris is in eternity. I reflected on the mystery of our lives. Before we were born, according to the psalms, our days here on earth were numbered. Hers a mere 2 ½ years. Mine? I have celebrated 70 birthdays without her physically with me. The pain of that separation, at times, is still felt—more so as I grow older, for some reason, though spiritually we are very intimate with one another. The mystery of life: both of us have been created for a reason, a mission that no one else can accomplish in our stead. And both of us, though we looked so much alike that persons had a hard time figuring out who was who, would have been called to develop unique personalities, discover our unique talents and interests in life and follow God’s will that, also, would have been separate from each other. What a mystery! And what a gift to be an identical twin, even though physically apart for most of our lives. In her spirit self, Doris is always with me!
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