Not a lot of people want to talk about death, right? I quickly push it aside, refusing to fear or think about it, writing if off since I believe in Jesus Christ, and remind myself of hope in light of His resurrection. While Christians should find comfort in life after death, what does it mean in itself to die well? Shouldn't we discuss this type of thing?
Henri Nouwen does a beautiful job in his book Our Greatest Gift of discussing the personal and communal implications of death. While I want to write about what this book taught me, I'm just not there yet. For now, I'll share some of the most challenging and inspirational passages for me. In weeks to come, I hope to dissect some of these words so this type of conversation may transform my heart and allow it to challenge the way in which I live and care for others.
"To care well for the dying, we must trust deeply that these people are loved as much as we are, and we must make that love visible by our presence; we must trust that their dying and death deepen their solidarity with the human family, and we must guide them in becoming part of the communion of saints; and finally, we must trust that their death, just as ours, will make their lives fruitful for generations to come. We must encourage them to let go of their fears and to hope beyond the boundaries of death...
When we have the courage to let go of our need to cure, our care can truly heal in ways far beyond our own dreams and expectations. With our gift of care, we can gently lead our dying brothers and sisters always deeper into the heart of God and God's universe."
Has anyone else read Our Greatest Gift? Or any other favorite quotes by Henri Nouwen? Next on my list is to read The Inner Voice of Love. Here are some more quotes from Our Greatest Gift, let me know what you think.