Physician Assisted Suicide
Many states have enacted or are in the process of enacting Death With Dignity laws, or, Physician Assisted Suicide by another name. I honestly can’t decide how I feel about this. My wife battled her cancer through four years of treatments, surgeries, chemo, radiation and countless tests and procedures. In the end, none of it mattered and her last days were lived with much pain. I ask myself, would she have chosen to end her life early if given the option, rather than go through such suffering in those last days? I, in my heart, know absolutely that the answer is no. Karen knew where she was going, she was secure in her faith and her salvation and still she wanted to be with her family and the ones she loved for every last available moment.
Maybe love has something to do with it. She was so loved and loved so many, that is what made hanging on to the end possible to bear. I cant and won’t speak, nor judge another in this matter. Motives could be countless. Maybe someone doesn’t really have that love, or close family at hand. Maybe they don’t want to put their family through what those days can bring. Maybe they just don’t want to suffer. I don’t know
I wonder about physicians who opt to assist these people in their wishes. That must be a hard choice to make. I can’t imagine. I also wonder about the long term repercussions about laws like this. Could they be gateways to other forms of euthanasia at some point? I mean, if a practice like this becomes acceptable and status quo to the masses, then at some point, with rising health care costs and other social woes, does it then become palatable to consider Assisting the mentally or physically unfirm to end their days? Then when our aging population becomes a burden do we begin to consider that maybe a certain age is a point where a person becomes expendable for the common good of society? I shudder to think.
I have sought the Lord in this. I have prayed deeply and meditated. I don’t have a solid, steadfast answer. What I do know is this. It’s important for every last person to know who Jesus is before their day comes. I don’t want anyone to go to the graveyard without that
I know this also. On that day for Karen, she was at home where she wanted to be, and where she should have been. She was surrounded by many. I held her as she went to be with the Lord. There were twelve of us here at that moment and to a person, every last one of us, knew beyond a doubt that the Lord had been in our midst. On the absolute very worst day in my life, the day I lost the love of my life, we were all of us praising God and singing. I now understand what it means to be in heaven and have no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears. I received just a glimpse that day. I kind of felt like Moses when the Lord told him to hide himself in the cleft of the rock and he would pass by. God passed by that day, that was my assurance. When you are in the presence of the Lord, You cannot help but praise him. The heavenly host was here that day. Karen was carried home in the arms of the Lord. That, my friends, is death with dignity.
march on
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sin is Sin, is Sin, is Sin
About five years ago I was in a men’s bible study group. There were 7 of us and we met weekly. One night one member of our group came and had a confession for us. It seems he had been arrested that day and charged with sexually abusing his step-daughter. He had been released on bail and had a restraining order against him to keep him away from his step-daughter, wife, and his home. I wasn’t exactly sure why he came to group that night, maybe he was looking for sympathy or something. I don’t think he got what he expected.
The abuse had apparently been going on for a period of years. The girl was, at that time, 11 years old. She had told a friend at school and that friend had told a parent who had in turn, told the school.
I was beside myself with anger and rage. I have spent my whole entire adult life working with kids. This was an affront to everything I lived for. This man admitted his guilt and wanted us to consider a character reference for him during his pre-sentence investigation. I said to him, ‘you want me to give you a character reference based on what, the fact that you have been coming to this group for two years and basically lying to us?” I said, I like you, I do, but I can’t abide this. My whole life is working with kids. Is that why you befriended me, so you could be closer to the kids I work with?
It turned out that he had previously been convicted in another state of the same thing, during a different marriage, with adopted twin daughters. Somehow he had been able to hide that from his new wife. I don’t know how. It was very evident that he was a sociopath and manipulator. He is currently serving time in the state prison system.
Over the next days and weeks I was convicted by the spirit over my feelings toward this. Not that I was supposed to embrace this man and all of us live happily ever after, but I was convicted by the realization that Sin is Sin in the eyes of God.
But for the grace of God, there go I. Man ranks sin. We give it points I guess based on what the sin is. Murder, rape, child molesting, get big scores. Maybe robbery and arson get another set of points. Then there is lying, and infidelity, and drug dealing and those things which, according to man’s standards, are lesser sins.
Of course we, in our human state of things, shouldn’t throw the shoplifter in the same prison cell and for the same time as the child molester. I don’t suggest that at all. My point is, To God, un-repented, un-forgiven by the grace of Jesus Christ, sin, is still sin. I don’t think the Lord has a point system for sin and that was what I was being convicted of by the spirit. I needed to not focus on the molester, he would face his punishment. I needed to focus on my life and examine some sin there that needed just as much grace.
If a renegade pilot of a hijacked plane crashes into a building and kills hundreds, and the pilot of a single engine plane deliberately crashes into his ex-wife’s home and kills her, under grace, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, both of those people can come to saving knowledge of Christ and be eternally saved. They would have both needed to have made that personal decision but could have both been washed in the blood and forgiven.
That was the hard concept for me and the reason for my struggle. I am a sinner. Without question, I am a sinner. Man must, under mans law, and to paraphrase, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But we must also, the molester, the murderer, the liar, the thief, come to saving grace the same way and at the same price, Free, through the gift of our savior.
Christ died for me. I’m didn’t earn it. I can’t pay for it. I don’t deserve it, but there he is, before the father, giving my character reference.
Amen
The abuse had apparently been going on for a period of years. The girl was, at that time, 11 years old. She had told a friend at school and that friend had told a parent who had in turn, told the school.
I was beside myself with anger and rage. I have spent my whole entire adult life working with kids. This was an affront to everything I lived for. This man admitted his guilt and wanted us to consider a character reference for him during his pre-sentence investigation. I said to him, ‘you want me to give you a character reference based on what, the fact that you have been coming to this group for two years and basically lying to us?” I said, I like you, I do, but I can’t abide this. My whole life is working with kids. Is that why you befriended me, so you could be closer to the kids I work with?
It turned out that he had previously been convicted in another state of the same thing, during a different marriage, with adopted twin daughters. Somehow he had been able to hide that from his new wife. I don’t know how. It was very evident that he was a sociopath and manipulator. He is currently serving time in the state prison system.
Over the next days and weeks I was convicted by the spirit over my feelings toward this. Not that I was supposed to embrace this man and all of us live happily ever after, but I was convicted by the realization that Sin is Sin in the eyes of God.
But for the grace of God, there go I. Man ranks sin. We give it points I guess based on what the sin is. Murder, rape, child molesting, get big scores. Maybe robbery and arson get another set of points. Then there is lying, and infidelity, and drug dealing and those things which, according to man’s standards, are lesser sins.
Of course we, in our human state of things, shouldn’t throw the shoplifter in the same prison cell and for the same time as the child molester. I don’t suggest that at all. My point is, To God, un-repented, un-forgiven by the grace of Jesus Christ, sin, is still sin. I don’t think the Lord has a point system for sin and that was what I was being convicted of by the spirit. I needed to not focus on the molester, he would face his punishment. I needed to focus on my life and examine some sin there that needed just as much grace.
If a renegade pilot of a hijacked plane crashes into a building and kills hundreds, and the pilot of a single engine plane deliberately crashes into his ex-wife’s home and kills her, under grace, and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, both of those people can come to saving knowledge of Christ and be eternally saved. They would have both needed to have made that personal decision but could have both been washed in the blood and forgiven.
That was the hard concept for me and the reason for my struggle. I am a sinner. Without question, I am a sinner. Man must, under mans law, and to paraphrase, Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But we must also, the molester, the murderer, the liar, the thief, come to saving grace the same way and at the same price, Free, through the gift of our savior.
Christ died for me. I’m didn’t earn it. I can’t pay for it. I don’t deserve it, but there he is, before the father, giving my character reference.
Amen
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Dealing with conflict
I saw an interesting quote today that said “War never solved anything, Except Slavery, Fascism, and communism.” Think about that for a minute. Many people try to avoid conflict at all costs. They don’t like it. Its scares them or makes them ill. I think that at times and for the right reasons, conflict is necessary.
What if there had been no Civil War? Would we still have slavery? Someone, or many people for that matter, stood up for what was right. Of course, if you study history then you will know that both sides in the civil war were certain that they were right. Both sides were certain that God Almighty was on their side and they fought accordingly. It’s a fascinating study. The point is that without the willingness to face conflict and seek resolution then I believe our very spirits would atrophy. Growth, both personally and communally doesn’t occur by apathy.
Sometimes though, an intransigent attitude or position will only deepen what could otherwise be an amicable solution to disagreement. Especially in marriage it’s important to seek common ground when conflict arises. Avoidance and indifference to growth through the process can only deepen the conflict until it reaches a point of, in the case of marriage, what is usually divorce.
In twenty four years of marriage before I lost her, my wife and I never once went to bed mad at each other. Sure we had disagreements. Sure we didn’t always agree, but we never let it fester. We faced it, we resolved it. We loved each other deeper and deeper every day.
I had a poor relationship with my father. There, I said it. We didn’t see eye to eye on many things. I left home at an early age. I could do better on my own than under his roof. We were polite to each other. I tried to get my children to spend time with him as often as I could, children need a grandfather, but we never resolved our conflict. When he passed away I gave the eulogy at his service. It was only then that I finally understood what I wouldn’t see in all those years. My father was a good man. It was the alcohol that did all those things. He was a good man and I missed that chance to have a meaningful great relationship with him. That opportunity was there the whole time and I think he tried many times to reconcile but I had started down the same path of alcohol abuse as he and I think I blamed him. I blew it and didn’t face the conflict and have had to deal with that in my life.
I think that the best way to face a conflict is to first examine my own life. This is best done thru prayer. What are my motives, my goals, my agenda. Seeking to follow MATTHEW 7:5 and, to paraphrase, ‘Get the log out of my own eye so I can more clearly see to get the speck out of my brother’s eye,” can only make the resolution of any conflict beneficial to all.
What if there had been no Civil War? Would we still have slavery? Someone, or many people for that matter, stood up for what was right. Of course, if you study history then you will know that both sides in the civil war were certain that they were right. Both sides were certain that God Almighty was on their side and they fought accordingly. It’s a fascinating study. The point is that without the willingness to face conflict and seek resolution then I believe our very spirits would atrophy. Growth, both personally and communally doesn’t occur by apathy.
Sometimes though, an intransigent attitude or position will only deepen what could otherwise be an amicable solution to disagreement. Especially in marriage it’s important to seek common ground when conflict arises. Avoidance and indifference to growth through the process can only deepen the conflict until it reaches a point of, in the case of marriage, what is usually divorce.
In twenty four years of marriage before I lost her, my wife and I never once went to bed mad at each other. Sure we had disagreements. Sure we didn’t always agree, but we never let it fester. We faced it, we resolved it. We loved each other deeper and deeper every day.
I had a poor relationship with my father. There, I said it. We didn’t see eye to eye on many things. I left home at an early age. I could do better on my own than under his roof. We were polite to each other. I tried to get my children to spend time with him as often as I could, children need a grandfather, but we never resolved our conflict. When he passed away I gave the eulogy at his service. It was only then that I finally understood what I wouldn’t see in all those years. My father was a good man. It was the alcohol that did all those things. He was a good man and I missed that chance to have a meaningful great relationship with him. That opportunity was there the whole time and I think he tried many times to reconcile but I had started down the same path of alcohol abuse as he and I think I blamed him. I blew it and didn’t face the conflict and have had to deal with that in my life.
I think that the best way to face a conflict is to first examine my own life. This is best done thru prayer. What are my motives, my goals, my agenda. Seeking to follow MATTHEW 7:5 and, to paraphrase, ‘Get the log out of my own eye so I can more clearly see to get the speck out of my brother’s eye,” can only make the resolution of any conflict beneficial to all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
