Jesus uses a homey parable to help his disciples understand that his departure will ultimately bring them joy.
We can use that parable to help us face the "dyings" we have to go through in life.
Dying is a law of life. To go to another level we have to die to the level we are at. The infant has to give way ("die") to infancy in order to become ("be born") the child. The child has to die to childhood to become the teenager. And on it goes - the teenager has to become the adult - and the adult, to the "old person" - and the old person has to die to be born into the fullness of life.
There is continuity (you are the same person before and after) but also discontinuity (you have to let go of the previous "life").
Did God set thing up this way just to make it difficult?
No.
If we are to be free human beings (not robots or animals acting on instinct) ... destined to become God-like ... it could be no other way.
Think about it.
Talk it over with the Lord.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw