Columnists

Using Ritual to Process Grieving

Issue 44.13

Thirty years ago there was a cultural shift in the way we dealt with death and dying. Through the heroic work of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, we learned to treat the dying with more dignity. There was also a cultural shift in the way we buried our loved ones. Instead of the somber and […]

A Story Of Caring

Issue 39.13

Dear Reader,

Here is a great story about caring for one another during life’s difficult situations. Its wisdom goes beyond human understanding and touches the depths of who we really are to one another.

It speaks volumes about loving and caring for each other. Nothing more needs to be said. Just open you […]

Reaching Out To The Bereaved

Issue 32.13

Several years ago AT&T had a classic commercial and at the same time encouraged people to use the telephone. “Reach out and Touch Someone” was the catchy phrase that was set to music and extolled the benefits of connecting with family and friends via the telephone. The jingle stuck with me all these […]

Lessons From The Departed

Issue 27.13

Over the last ten years I’ve sat by the bedside of many dying persons. It has been a privilege to have talked with these beloved individuals in their final moments. During these sacred moments with them I have learned three important lessons.

First, the dying know that their days are numbered and quietly […]

: The 3 G Process Of Grief: …Grief, Gratitude, Grace

Issue 24.13

At some point in our life we will experience grief and loss. No one is exempted from the pain of loss and separation during life’s journey here on earth. Even Jesus experienced grief in his lifetime. The Bible states, “Jesus wept” before the tomb of his friend, Lazarus, which shows that he too […]

Compassionate Service To Alzheimer’s Patients

Issue 20.13

Caring for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia is difficult and often challenging for primary caregivers and health professionals alike. The difficulty in caring for such patients is due perhaps in part to erroneous perceptions and expectations we have towards these individuals. When we accept people the way they are and understand their inability […]

Death As A Part Of Life

Issue 12.13

It’s been over 40 years since Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote her epic and monumental book On Death and Dying. It created a tremendous shift in the medical field and in Western society on how we treat people who are dying of a terminal illness. For a long time dying people were neglected in […]

Hospice Is For Everyone

Issue 7.13

There are many myths, half truths and misunderstandings circulating among the general public about Hospice and its services. Such misleading information undercuts the true purpose of Hospice. It also hinders people from using hospice services when they really need them. It often surprises and sometimes even shocks me to hear the misconceptions that […]

Inspiration From Newtown

Issue 3.13

It’s amazing how a tragedy brings out the best of us as human beings. In the midst of the events of Newtown the families continue to be an inspiration to all of us. Their heroic examples of compassion and love lift our hearts with hope.

The sign from Newtown, frequently shown after the […]

The Hidden Gift Of Love

Issue 50.12

There’s a time for everything under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die….. A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to mourn and a time to dance….. Eccle: 3:1

Whether we are celebrating the beginning of a life or the end of life, it […]