Growing up in a culture that embraced death has not been
familiar to me. In fact, we just did not
talk about it even though it may have been on everyone’s minds. Children did not go to funerals and certainly
did not see the body of a deceased person.
If someone began to talk about their death, the usual response was – “now
don’t talk about that – you are fine.” All
of those thoughts that came naturally about death, just got submerged deep
within and created a mountain of fear. It has taken much unlearning for me to move
away from this view point.
I recently ran across a meditation from Henri Nouwen entitled
Dying Well. It is a keeper. It does not dismiss the idea of a bucket list
but most of the things that many of us put on that list are self indulgent,
leaving no lasting gift for the world from which we depart. It is as though we are in this race to fit everything
in that we could possibly want to do. All
of the attention is on me. What if most
of the things that we put on our lists are things that will continue to give
after we are gone? Can I give my spirit
away every day so that I have none left?
Will that spirit continue on in the generations after me?
The idea of dying well is life-giving to me. It gives me a renewed energy towards my work,
family, friends, home, church, and self.
Is it possible that this giving away of self is the abundant life that
Jesus talked about? This is a life that
will never die. This Lent may we let go
of more of those things that do not matter, embrace the things that do, and give our life away.
- · Be present to whoever and whatever you are with
- · Give of yourself completely to whatever task is in front of you
- · Walk a little slower, taking notice of the abundance around you
- · Let go of the need to buy and give more to what is sustaining for all
- · Give thanks every day, even in sickness and death for this incredible gift of life we have been given
- · Use your gifts up!
What would you add:
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