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 our culture. Dr. Kubler-Ross’ book opened up a whole new way of seeing death and dying in a more positive light and a part of life’s journey to be embraced.
We have made great progress in our culture in the way we treat the dying with the introduction of Hospice care. Death and dying are still not things we talk about comfortably even when it is the appropriate time to do so. However, death is a natural part of life just as birth is. Some reflection on life’s natural progression will shed light on the truth of this statement.
The poem, “The Dash” by Linda Ellis states how life can be expressed between our birth and the time of our death – our Dash. It behooves us to “Love greatly and die magnificently.”
Death in a real sense is a catalyst for growth. We are born and then grow through the different phases of life as child, teenager, young adult to mature adult and senior citizen. To reach each new phase, we have to die to the previous one. Each phase brings with it new and expanded awareness of life and its meaning.
Dr. Kubler-Ross wrote another book in 1975 called Death, the Final Stage of Growth. In it she states that death is a natural event of life. When we accept the reality of death as another stage of growth into the mystery of life, we experience life as the spiritual gift that it is.
The great theologian, Teilhard de Chardin once stated: “We are spiritual beings having an earthly experience.” Death is the doorway through which we experience ourselves as “Spiritual Beings.” Our journey in life is to experience and express our spiritual qualities of love, joy, compassion, peace and forgiveness to one another.
We commemorate the Christian feast of Easter at the end of the month. It is not only the great celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection but also the reality of recognizing new growth and experiencing our own spiritual renewal of life everlasting. Have a happy Easter!
Rev. Luigi Persichetti is the spiritual counselor for Southern Utah Home Care and Hospice and retired Unity minister from Unity Center of Positive Living in St. George.