Aging Wisdom: Church on Grief:

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

"There is such a thing as pathological suffering, which is any suffering that closes us off from others rather than connecting us to them."

Shared wisdom

Forrest Church on possible useful wishes for the dying person: "The courage to bear under pain. The grace to take our successes lightly. The liberation that comes with forgiveness. The energy to address tasks that await our doing. The meaning to be found in giving ourselves to others. The patience to surmount things that are dragging us down. The joy to be gained in even the smallest endeavor. The wonder that lies the sacred moments of our birth and death."
Forrest Church once more, "All of our lives end in the middle of the story."
Forrest Church on hospital etiquette when visiting one seriously ill: 1. After greeting the person, sit beside them. 2. Be sure to feel free to touch. 3. What to say? Try something like this must be trying? 4. Dont stay too long if person is visibly tired. 5. Share how much you care. 6. Be kind to the nurses for they sustain life for your loved ones in the hospital.:
From Forrest Church in response to 9/11/2001, "Love conquers fear because it cannot die."
Forrest Church on pathological suffering, "...any suffering that closes us off from others rather than connecting us to them."
From Forrest Church, "The goal of life is to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for."
From Forrest Church, "Want what you have. Do what you can. Be who you are."

Tuesday, February 3, 2009