There is a woman, a friend of mine, who I see each Friday evening.
My friend has been struggling with complicated physical ailments since before we met. She has fought pain and frustration, being misunderstood and ignored. Her courage and spirit kept her going long past the time most of us would have despaired.
A few months ago, my brilliant friend found herself without more options. She decided to cease the painful treatments which were not helping her. Now, months later, she receives hospice care at home.
A person from our church prays with my friend each day. I volunteered for Fridays. We are a liturgical church, and most people pray something out of the prayer book. My friend and I met through a centering prayer group, so we quiet our minds and get centered together.
We do not share very much conversation these days. Our time for long discussions is past. We talk a little, and we pray. Our prayer helps both of us become calm, open, and relaxed. Our prayer together helps us listen.
I hope my presence there, each Friday, is helpful. My heart and mind become filled with deep truths about living and dying. My soul and spirit are fed each week. I can only hope she receives half of what I receive.
There is tremendous healing in our prayers. Neither of us expects her physical challenges to dissolve; the healing happens deep within us.
It is an amazing privilege to accompany someone as they learn to die well. The experience is a very much like accompanying a person as they learn to live well.
How are we learning to live well, and to die well, this week?
Who accompanies you as you learn the deep lessons of life and death?
[Image by David Paul Ohmer]
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