new church life: march / april 2014
a crisis decision. It is important for family members to know our wishes and
to establish who will speak for us if we can’t speak for ourselves – as often
happens.
He cited Heaven and Hell 443, 446 and 447 about when death occurs, but
it’s often complicated. For example, viable brain cells still can be harvested up
to four hours after death.
There are several websites than can help people understand the issues
involved, and which provide fertile ground for discussions about death – and
life after death:
• www.theconversationproject.org
• www.deathoverdinner.org
• www.deathcafe.org
• www.afterlifeconference.org
The latter is an annual conference in Portland, Oregon. The next, in
June, will include Dr. Eben Alexander, author of Proof of Heaven, who is also
scheduled to speak in Bryn Athyn on April 6. That event also includes several
related symposiums in Bryn Athyn College.
Jim distributed an invaluable four-page form, Making Your Own Health
Care Choices, available on the Boynton Beach New Church website, which he
said everyone should fill out. Also on the website is a 1991 Charter Day address
by the Rev. Daniel Goodenough with a New Church perspective on Choices.
We are making choices every moment of our lives – from our loves – and
how our life ends should be part of that choosing process.
Advance care planning includes:
• Rights and responsibilities
• Decisions about life-sustaining treatment
• How to inform health care professionals about your preferences
• Making sure your preferences are honored
More than half of us, he said, will not be able to speak for ourselves at the
last stages of our lives, so who do we want to speak for us? What do we want
them to know, and to say? We need to be clear about exactly what we want,
communicate this with our families, and provide good documentation. Copies
should go to our families, lawyer and health care team. Advance care planning
may be our last, best gift to our families.
About 1% of the population suffers a sudden death; the rest of us will
decline slowly. The more everyone knows about what quality of life and
procedures are acceptable to us, the easier it will be for everyone.
There are generally three pathways for the sick and dying: life-prolonging
care, limited medical care and comfort care. It is important to understand
the differences and the options. Most people do not want a lot of tubes and
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