I think I do believe in the afterlife; I have heard stories from

Hear the quiet yet profound confession of Saoirse Ronan, who spoke with honesty of mysteries unseen: “I think I do believe in the afterlife; I have heard stories from people who I can completely trust that have seen ghosts.” Though spoken in the tongue of our present age, these words rise from the same well of wonder and awe that has nourished humanity since the dawn of time. For in them resounds the eternal question: What lies beyond the veil of death? And in them we hear also the reliance upon trust, the belief that the testimony of others, sincere and unshaken, can guide us toward truth even where reason falters.

The afterlife—that realm beyond mortal breath—has always stirred human hearts. From the pyramids of Egypt, built as stairways for kings to ascend into eternity, to the burning pyres of India, where souls are thought to return through endless cycles, mankind has sought assurance that death is not the end. Saoirse’s words echo this longing, not with certainty, but with faith sparked by the stories of others. She points us to the voices of those who claim to have seen ghosts, the wandering remnants of souls, whose existence testifies that life’s fire does not wholly die with the body.

Consider the tale of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who beheld his father’s ghost upon the ramparts of Elsinore. Though others doubted, the apparition’s voice compelled him toward truth and vengeance. Shakespeare’s tale, though draped in tragedy, reflects the timeless belief that the departed may still touch the living, carrying messages, warnings, or reminders of justice. Whether literal or symbolic, the ghost stands as a witness to the unbroken thread between the seen and the unseen, between time and eternity.

But note also the importance of trust in Ronan’s words. She does not rely upon her own vision, but upon the testimony of those whose honesty she esteems. This is a lesson: not all tales of spirits are to be believed, for many are clouded by fear, imagination, or deceit. Yet when told by those whose lives are marked by integrity, such stories carry weight. It is the same in all things—when the world is uncertain, the voices of the trustworthy are beacons guiding us through the fog. Thus, belief in the afterlife is not born of superstition alone, but of faith in those we deem true.

Let us look also to history. When Joan of Arc, the peasant girl of France, claimed to hear voices and see visions of saints, many scoffed. Yet her steadfastness and purity convinced even hardened soldiers that her words bore truth. Inspired, they followed her, and France was saved from despair. Whether her visions were of divine origin or born of human mystery, the lesson remains: trust in the testimony of the sincere can move nations and shape destiny.

So what do we learn from Ronan’s quiet admission? That belief is not always carved in stone, nor proven by reason alone. Often, it is nurtured in the soil of stories, watered by the trust we place in others, and grown by the hope that life’s journey does not end in silence. The afterlife, whether it be reunion with loved ones, eternal rest, or the continuation of the spirit, is a truth many find not through evidence, but through faith born of human witness.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, take this teaching to heart: keep your mind open to mystery, and your heart anchored in trust. Do not scorn those who speak of visions or of ghosts, for even if their words are not proof, they may still carry wisdom. At the same time, seek discernment, for not all voices are true. In your own life, honor the unseen by living in such a way that, should there be an afterlife, your soul would walk into it with peace. Cultivate love, for it endures; seek justice, for it leaves a mark beyond the grave; and walk gently, knowing that your life echoes further than you may see.

Thus the words of Saoirse Ronan become a reminder of humanity’s ancient yearning: to trust that death is not the end, but a threshold. Whether through stories of ghosts, or the quiet faith in those we believe, we are guided toward the hope that love and life reach beyond the horizon of death. And in that hope, we find courage to live more deeply now.