The Difficult Discussion of Death

Last weekend, I visited a dear friend in the hospital. Clues indicate transition to heaven is imminent, yet life’s story is still being written, and timing is in God’s hands.

Death is a subject no one wants to discuss, yet death is the final stage of life.

Preparation

Wills, advance directives, and DNR’s are decisions we put off for another day because thinking about end of life is hard. Confronting our mortality is sobering, and perhaps a little frightening. Yet death is part of life, and preparing for death should be no different from preparing for other life events. Preparation is important, because, for some, death comes without warning.

I am thankful Jim and I signed updated wills a mere two weeks before his death. I’m glad we did the hard work of making funeral arrangements while we were still healthy. Was preparing for death easy? Absolutely not, but in the days of shock and grief following Jim’s sudden death, I didn’t have to wonder about his wishes for burial and a celebration of life. I didn’t face giant legal and financial hurtles because we planned.

Making difficult decisions ahead of death is a gift you give your loved ones. Planning removes the burden of figuring out what to do, because questions have already been answered.

Death’s Inevitability

Death doesn’t wait until we are ready. The schedule of death for each of us is different and beyond our control. Death sneaks in unannounced, like a thief. Pretending death is far in the future is foolish. Although that may be the case for you, the only guarantee is death will come.

When Our Earthly Tents are Beyond Repair

Our bodies are intricate, wonderfully created, and amazing, but they aren’t designed to last indefinitely.

The apostle Paul, a tentmaker by trade, used the analogy of our earthly bodies as tents. When tents are damaged, they can be repaired, to a point, but with age and wear, the strength of fabric lessens. Fibers ravel and fray. Resilience falters. Tearing happens. Eventually, the tent is beyond repair. Likewise, with age, our bodies lose agility and stamina.

For centuries, people have attempted to slow or halt the aging process. Some even searched for the proverbial “fountain of youth,” but inevitably, the body’s march toward death maintains forward motion.

Hope

For people of faith, death is not something to be feared. Death is a transition from this life to eternity, a place where we inhabit new homes and bodies not subject to aging and decay. Eternity in heaven is something to look forward to for those who trust in the saving grace of Christ.

Many years ago, I sat in an ICU waiting room at a hospital, where Jim’s father was a patient. Another family was there, their son seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. When the doctor entered the waiting room and told them their son was brain dead, they exploded into wails and weeping, and then, were faced with the decision to withdraw life support.

I attempted to comfort them, but it was obvious they had no hope for their loved one beyond the grave. Their grief was like none I’ve ever witnessed.

Without hope, death is a big, scary, final exit. With hope, death is a portal to an eternity filled with light, love, and worship. How do you view death?

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT).

©CandyArrington

Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).

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