Meeting the Great Mystery

       Our life is, of course, not separate from our death. Deep in our bones we know that each of us will die.  And still there is grieving and awareness of loss. Still there is fear and wonder. Awe and surprise.  Still there is beauty and struggle and surrender. Still there is mystery.

        Often, in meeting this mystery,  we pull away from those who are dying as if it was dying, and not disease, that was contagious. Far too often those who are dying are medically tended but emotionally and spiritually isolated. Perhaps it is because we are afraid of death. Perhaps we are afraid of the profound intimacy that arises when we truly listen and engage with the dying.Perhaps we are afraid of the grief we will feel when they die.

         For thousands of years humanity has met the mystery of death and the process of dying with ritual, ceremony and spiritual practices. We have met it with medicines and met it with machines. We have met it with denial, fear, busyness and consumerism. We have bargained with death and argued with death. We have tried to buy our way out of dying. Or perhaps we have tried to buy our way into living. No matter what, the mystery remains. 

       Every life and its accompanying death are unique and there is no expert on death but the dying themselves. But our rich history of humane responses to the truth of our mortality tells us that there are compassionate ways to meet this largest of mysteries and create an indestructible Circle of Love and Care.
      We can stand beside those who are dying. We can navigate through the emotions and decisions and actions that need tending. Our presence, compassion, skill and thoughtful attention can support those who are dying as they tend to the final tasks of their lives and attain a sense of peace and wholeness.