I’m not afraid of death. In fact, I spend a fair amount of time, as the expression goes, dealing with the death issue. I can visit with the dying because I believe and have come to know that they are surrounded by the peace of God that passes all understanding. I saw this time and time again when I was a spiritual care counselor for hospice.God was always there accompanying the dying into the mystery of the next unknown.
However, I don’t have the same certainty about the myriad circumstance surrounding death. Each death is different. God shows no partiality. Recently I attended the funeral of a 57 year old woman who, in the space of a week, went from not feeling well to dying in the hospital. Then there is a friend, also in her late 50’s, who has entered hospice after a six month cancer diagnosis. And what about my mom, who slowly and peacefully went to God at age 101? All very different experiences, and thus different grieving for each of the families. For the loved ones of the dying, the peace of God seems less certain. It may not be apparent the God is with them, but I have to believe God is there in the whirl wind or in the small voice.
However, I don’t have the same certainty about the myriad circumstance surrounding death. Each death is different. God shows no partiality. Recently I attended the funeral of a 57 year old woman who, in the space of a week, went from not feeling well to dying in the hospital. Then there is a friend, also in her late 50’s, who has entered hospice after a six month cancer diagnosis. And what about my mom, who slowly and peacefully went to God at age 101? All very different experiences, and thus different grieving for each of the families. For the loved ones of the dying, the peace of God seems less certain. It may not be apparent the God is with them, but I have to believe God is there in the whirl wind or in the small voice.
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