Do you believe there's a good day to die waiting for you out there?
We'll always be reminded of the Klingons who felt it was good to die in battle, and the men of the Wild West who prefered to die with their boots on.
John Grisham, opens his book "The Testament" with a billionaire signing a new will and then jumping to his death.
But on the other side of the coin is the mountain climber who cut off his own arm this year rather than face theGrim Reaper.
I'm a Christian. I've been taught that it's a sin to take my own life. I hope that I'll never be faced with a painful illness, because that might make my resolve waiver. There are a lot of situations where someone might choose death over life. If you knew you had Alzheimer's, would you be one of the people who choose to take your own life when you could still recognize your family, or would you wait to see what surprises God has in store for you, knowing the grief and hardship it could bring your family?
Some time ago I blogged about predestination. Several of the people who commented felt that we are here because we have lessons to learn, or because we are to have some kind of impact on another person. Do we short circuit those plans if we opt out too soon?
It's actually a novel thought to me.....that this might be a good day to die. I expect that I will live my life until my heart beats no more. But I've heard my mother say "Why would anyone want to live to 100?" I understand that Bob Hope was active right up to his nineties, and he clearly had the will to live even though he was no longer able to perform. My mother is 86, and she is clear of thought and quick with retort, and has a regular schedule of activities she follows, including exercise class three days a week. But I think these two may be exceptions to the rule. Would it be a good day to die if you were no longer in charge of your body or your life?
When I was in my twenties and thirties I was immortal. All young people are immortal. They have no concept of aging and they have zest for life. If you are fortunate to live to your forties, you begin thinking about death as you loose loved ones, and friends. It becomes necessary to have a black dress or suit so that you can see your loved ones off.
Soooooooo......Do we decide for ourselves when we shuffle off this mortal coil, and go out smiling, having enjoyed life to the brim? Or, do we hold out and see what mysteries unfold before us?
Mystery has always appealed to me. What about you?
Comments (5)
As a good, well um, just a Catholic boy, I too struggle with "what if I was gone if not for a machine?" question. I certainly would not want to be a burden on my family, however, I'm reminded of a line John Travolta said in a movie where he had a serious case of brain cancer and the docs wanted to do a highly risky surgery that at best would leave him a vegetable. He said no that he "might have something to say" in his remaining lucid days of life. Profound.
Posted by Sgt Hook | August 6, 2003 1:53 AM
Posted on August 6, 2003 01:53
No machines for me, either. I can't think of a more wretched existence.
Posted by Buffy | August 6, 2003 11:21 AM
Posted on August 6, 2003 11:21
Aah Buffy. More good stuff from you.
First off, I will be 40 next month. I have thought about my own death before. Who will be attending the funeral (and my belief is that our souls will be very much there mingling amongst those in attendance), and so on. How will our families and good friends feel? What will be the mode of dying? If you have a very close or best friend....which of you is going to go first?
I like you would not hope to find myself in a situation where I thought that taking my life would make me better off than what I am going through. But, I have always said that there are some life situations that even though we say or feel that we may choose to act/behave in a particular manner if we were to end up in such a situation, we cannot fully know how we will behave, unless we actually experience that situation ourselves. So, never say never, in other words, and try not to be too judgemental of others.
Having said that, I think that QUALITY of life is what is important. If one lives to be 95 years old in reasonable health...lets say with High Blood Pressure controlled by medication and a little arthritis, and you are still realtively active, nothing is wrong with living to a ripe old age. One can be as young as 35 years old and ailing with an incurable illness with a very poor quality of life.
If you have malignant disease that is causing you intense pain the usual methods of treatment...chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. have failed, then death is an answer. Remember, Christianity teaches that suffering makes us more like Jesus who suffered on the cross (and I'm no religious fanatic btw, but I think my belief in God is quite strong). But, easily, I don't know of anyone who will willingly embrace suffering and pain.
If someone is brain dead and living by a ventilator breathing for them, with a heartbeat, there is no quality of life there. After what can be deemed a 'reasonable' period of time waiting to see if the person's status changes, and it does not, as much as we the relatives may find it hard to let go of the individual, it is selfish of us to want them to go on indefinitely like that....being fed by tubes, passing faeces on onself....etc. I would not wish to be hooked up to any such device for extended periods of time. Let go. There is no quality of life there.
Sorry to take up so much space in your comment box as this equates to a post itself. but again, good post. I need to see what I can come up with myself.
Posted by Dr. D. | August 6, 2003 4:58 PM
Posted on August 6, 2003 16:58
Dr. D. I should have suggested this topic to you. You have some great thoughts on it, and the space was well used.
I agree that quality of life is very important. My mother is 86 and is in remarkably good health. Her doctors have said she can expect to live at least five to seven years more. I was startled that they put a number on her life expectancy, but she seems to be viewing it positively. Her dad lived to be 85, so I'm not surprised to see that she has genes for long life.
Posted by Buffy | August 7, 2003 12:01 AM
Posted on August 7, 2003 00:01
I know this is not a comical post, but after today's heat and lack of air conditioning, I thought one of two things, I had either begun the change way too early for my liking and having hot flashes, or I had died young and was visiting hell.....well come to find out our air conditing just died on us so I was still living in hell, you know the state they call Texas ~ but on a positive note I'm not having hot flashes.......well at least not until August 15th.......does "moistiness" count for hot flashes? *wicked smile*
Posted by Jamie | August 7, 2003 2:21 AM
Posted on August 7, 2003 02:21