Death 5

Over the past few years, I have observed with much more attention, the passage of generations. I listened to the retirement speech of an old teacher of mine in medical school. She spoke about wondering why a classmate of hers in high school was bereft because her father had died in his 50s. Her own parents were in their 30s and according to her, she thought 50 was ancient. She tactlessly commented about her friends grief wondering why she was so distraught. She made us all laugh when she mentioned that now at the age of 70, she does not count herself as one of the ancients.

My job brings me face to face with death on a daily basis and this has spurred me to put my house in order. I have had documents prepared for the disposal of my earthly benefits and I have appointed financial and health power of attorneys. I mention, like I mentioned in my last post to prevent the DMs that never fail to follow these posts, that I am not actively dying but I think preparing for death is as important if not more important than the daily efforts we pour into ensuring our life here is filled with what we consider happiness. If we spend so much time on the ephemeral, should we not spend much more on the eternal?

Do we think about the great beyond? Or are we too deeply buried in the earth that the sounds from heaven do not pierce our consciousness. I have had the privilege to be in rooms where people die and while it is something that I would rather avoid, I have learned a great deal from being present when people take their last breaths. I have seen people eyes stare out in the void seemingly terrified of the messenger sent to accompany them to the great beyond and I have seen people who are here one second, gone the next with a peaceful mask on their faces. I tell you, it makes me even curiouser about what lies beyond and what the actual process is.

Last month, I was involved in an accident and like my previous brushes with death, I met it with disbelief. At this point, I wonder if some other term more aptly describes these seeming near misses. I looked at the car that ran the red light and was headed my way askance. I did not believe, that he did not stop when the lights changed to red. If I was gone, my last words would have been 'the lights have changed for you to stop, why are you heading my way'. Not very notable last words I hear you say. I do not disagree with your observation. It did however teach me a lesson and it is that death many times does not come when you are prepared to deliver your own elegy. For some, it is sudden and occurs without any great herald, giving you an opportunity to put your house in order. For others, they have had days and maybe even years to prepare for the passage to the great beyond. The only caveat is that one rarely knows which method will be the way that is chosen. But, if we prepare to die daily as we plan to live each day, we will be in the second group of persons.

Based on my daily interactions with patients, I'll give the same advice to you as I have given in the past. Have open discussions about death. You do not hasten death if you do this, you are only helping to make things easier for everyone left behind. Talk about wills, reveal where your account passwords, numbers or other details may be found, tell them about hidden Swiss accounts :), land documents, fill out documents appointing powers of attorney for their health and finances. Make death less a ghostly specter and more an old friend who you might not see for a long time, but whose announcement of a visit is not met with great trepidation.

And because I am Nigerian, I will stave off the horror the previous paragraphs might have been stirred up, with a declaration, that we will live long and healthy lives and will die at a ripe old age. Somebody say Amen :)

For the believer in Jesus, death is not to be feared but is a joyful event- despite the tears of those left behind, for those who are eagerly awaiting their reunion with their master. It is going to sleep and waking up in a land more beautiful than AI can conjure. It is the holy expectation of all who call on Jesus for salvation. It is not an event to be feared but one to eagerly look forward to.

I will end with these verses from 1 Corinthians 15 from the Kings James Version

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.