BLOG 7/8/13. “FEAR OF DYING?”
It’s interesting, at this octogenarian passage of my life, to be surrounded as I am by some bright, wonderful and much younger friends, who give me great hope for the future because they are not intimidated by the challenges, and have a “fix it” mentality. But it also gives me some perspective. The other day I was visited by a couple of these iY generation friends, and it became obvious in our conversation that the events that had formed me were ancient history to them—totally off of their chart. We were speaking from two quite different cultures. I am excited and hopeful for my young friends, but let me make a leap here, because adventure is not theirs alone.
You see, I know how old I am, and I know that the next great adventure for me is that of dying, which as a follower of Jesus Christ, I find marvelous to contemplate. But many of my friends rebuke me for talking about dying … but I don’t accept that rebuke. I think of the New Testament word (Hebrews 2:14-15):
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and deliver all those who through the fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
This whole subject was exacerbated for me in a conversation recently with a medical professional, who deals primarily with elderly and dying individuals, and how that so many medical professionals and family members twist themselves into pretzels to avoid talking about death and dying. So sad. Yes, and even many who profess to be ‘Christian’ seem to totally disconnect this from their Easter faith.
I am reminded of Martin Luther King’s statement, when their were so many threats against his life, that when he accepted the fact of his own death: “ a huge freedom came over my life.” Yes, and amen! I long for all of my friends to have this freedom. And back to the Hebrews passage above, one of the huge gifts of Jesus and of the gospel is to free us from the tyranny of the fear of death.
In my 86th year it is this wonderful door of hope, this Jesus in whom I believe, who promised: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:24-25), that fills me with anticipation. My young Millennial and iY friends have a thrilling array of challenges and adventures before them … but so do I have that ultimate adventure before me. I don’t mind talking about it at all.
It is so beautifully stated in the hymn verse: “The golden evening brightens in the west: Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes the rest; Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Is that gospel/good news, or what? How can we believers not talk about it and share it with our friends wherever they may be in their human adventure?
Peace!
