Way back in August 1997, I wrote a column that once and for all erased the fear of death for me.

Even though I wasn’t too old, my health was in shambles and that made me think of such things prematurely.

But today, at 87 and living in an assisted living facility, I am much more familiar with “passing” and how quickly its reality makes me revisit my thoughts.

Do I truly not fear death?

What is there to be afraid of?

Surely I still feel no fear, but what about not fearing the absolute unknown?

Nobody knows for sure what happens that moment after our heart stops beating. So is that the fear?

Carly Simon is an incredibly talented and sensitive musician who wrote a song which the radio disk jockeys all around the country refused to play.

The reason? “It is about death and death is depressing,” they said.

Carly was hurt and very surprised because, as she said, “It is not about death at all, it’s about life.”

Right about that time, I was doing a lot of lecturing around the country on the subject of the circle of life.

When I heard this story on a radio station, I asked for a copy of the lyrics and she sent them to me. I want to share them with  you.

“Life is eternal

Love is immortal

And death is only a horizon.

Life is eternal, as we move into the light,

and the horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.

Save the limit of our sight.”

I don’t know about you, but these words made me want to shout for joy.

To me, when fear is removed from the ultimate state of death it frees us all to experience the horizon just as we experienced every other phase of life.

Death has nothing to do with fear. It is only a horizon where we peacefully move into the light.

How do I know? Because life is eternal and we will be given heavenly sight to continue.

The view from the mountain is wondrous.

Jean Brody is a passionate animal lover and mother. She previously lived in Winchester, but now resides in Littleton, Colorado. Her column has appeared in the Sun for more than 25 years.