Sisters of the Presentation of Mary

As a nurse, I have journeyed with individuals and their families as they approach death and begin to make decisions regarding their future care. Through these experiences, I have come to realize that there are many misconceptions and gaps in knowledge surrounding end of life issues. I have also grown in my appreciation for the Mystery of Life and the love which it calls forth from us. For this reason, I would like to briefly clarify notions surrounding some of these questions and provide food for thought and prayer. In the context of this blog, I will only be skimming the surface and hopefully inspiring a desire for further knowledge. I strongly suggest reading "Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide", published by the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF ). This document initially inspired the topic for my reflection and can be found on the website at end of the blog.

I would like to begin by clarifying that standard end of life care in Canada is in conformity with Catholic teaching. A person whose health is failing and is approaching the end of life, may choose to receive full available treatment for their condition, may refuse treatment, or may request the termination of current treatment when the burdens outweigh the benefits. Also, all are entitled to receive appropriate drugs for the relief of pain, even if these might have the unintended effect of shortening their life. It is important to understand that these measures differ morally and practically from euthanasia which is "the deliberate killing of someone, with or without that person's consent, in order to eliminate all suffering. The individual who commits euthanasia must, therefore, intend to kill the person and must cause the death – for example, by lethal injection" (COLF, 2013, p.2).

The reason why I decided to highlight these definitions is because some people believe that unless Euthanasia is legalized, they will be forced to endure treatments and undue suffering for the sake of prolonging their life indefinitely. This is not the case as explained above. In order for each person to experience the journey through death as peacefully as possible, I believe holistic palliative care services ought to be available for all individuals. This is where the political pressure is needed to ensure that these valued persons receive full care till the end.

Finally, in approaching questions of life and death, we must look beyond the confines of a purely medical definition and treatment of death. Death is a stage in life, a stage that every person must experience in order to enter into the fullness of life with God. It is a mystery that involves not only the body, but the mind and soul. As Catholics, we celebrate this mystery every Holy Week and in every Eucharist: the Paschal Mystery. In fact the Lord, in His merciful wisdom, allows us to experience various "deaths" each day that ultimately prepare us for our final death. When we encounter these deaths in others and in ourselves, we are invited to open the doors of our hearts to receive and to give love. Like Christ, in all the stages of our lives and in the lives of those around us, we are called to love till the end.

COLF, (2013). Euthanasia and
Assisted Suicide. http://www.colf.ca/mamboshop/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=282&func=fileinfo&id=12

             "Every day is Earth Day"

Though April 22, 2013 is the "official" day set aside to celebrate Earth Day, the truth is that  I can choose to  celebrate it always

in  all ways.  I hear the invitation to  begin today and receive  the blessings of the elements.

Receive the Blessings of the elements

Blessings of the earth

be upon me,

may its taste, smell and touch

remind me of the abundance of God.

Blessings of the wind be upon me.

Spirit of the great winds

help me

to hear your voice

in the midst of the whirlwinds of my life.

As I accept the life's challenges

may I know the blessings of fire.

May the light of God illuminate me

and may the flame of love burn brightly in me.

May I discover each day anew my own hidden fire and enter it fully.

Blessings of water be upon me.

May I be carried by the flow of the great river of life.

May I discover a hidden spring within, gushing forth.

May I be carried to the shores of the sacred and renewed.

(Christine Valters Paintner)

True contemplation always overflows into creation—it becomes a creative act

.

(Beverly Lanzetta, Radical Wisdom)

What invitation do you hear today?

No need to compete...

I've resolved to do something.  Whether this
resolution will stick and I will allow myself to be transformed is another
matter!

I'm talking about my impulse to compete.  No,
not in card games (strangely, I'm not attached to this then!  Probably because I forget to count – much to
the dismay of my zealous partners! J

I mean competing with other people for recognition, and affirmation, maybe, (I
feel so juvenile saying this) even attention?
I was visiting with some peers recently, and was struck by how easy it
is to – inadvertently – domineer conversation, to fall into trying to prove
oneself ("I know more, have experienced much"), to wrestle with a pang of envy
at someone else's success.

Was it Richard Rohr who said something along the lines that we don't have to fight
for crumbs, like chicks when the 'hash' is thrown?  God gives to each of us, personally, what we
need.

Lord,
help me be more rooted in your love, knowing I don't have to compete for it.

Lately, I have been working shifts in our community infirmary – a great learning experience, and, of course, a blessing! It's not often that I get to be with our elderly sisters, so I am enjoying this time with them.

My experience of working in an infirmary is probably similar to others. It has made me think of growing old, how some day I will be dependent on others to care for my basic, every day needs, and all the humiliations and frustrations that come with that. No one wants to lose capability and independence, to know that one's memory is unreliable, or that even though you know what you want, or what you're trying to say, others cannot understand.

The thing, though, about being with people at this stage of life, is you learn to live in the moment. Not much else matters. Oh, sure, there are tasks to be done in this work, but it's like you are in a new world order. There is only this elder's smile or tear, a whisper or plea to hear and decipher, the shaky hand reaching for a touch, a consoling grasp. You are drawn in, beyond yourself, to connect, to be fully present. And any time that happens, you are fully alive.

It always amazes me, to discover that, when people are most vulnerable, and seeming to be at their weakest, their presence, even their neediness are precious gifts to those of us who are often living for the next moment.

Live this moment...the fullness of God is here.