The Poor of Jesus

On Facebook the question was asked: "Are the beatitudes really talking about the economically 'poor'? And if they are, is it all the poor? Does every poor person obtain the kingdom of God?"

"Poor" in the beatitudes should certainly be taken literally. This is why it is combined with words like "mourning" and "hungry" and "hungry and thirsty for justice" and "meek". And it is in opposition to the "rich". Even "poor in spirit" means those who has an attitude like the poor. (see Proverbs 16:19)

However, we must be clear that the context doesn't allow us to say that it is about ALL poor people, regardless of action. In Luke 6 Jesus is speaking to his disciples when he says "Blessed are YOU that are poor; Woe to YOU that are rich"-- He is distinguishing among his own disciples those who surrender their possessions and those who keep them for their own personal use (Luke 14:33; Luke 12:33). In Matt. 5, the poor, the mourning and the meek are blessed, but so are the merciful, the peacemakers, the pure in heart. In other words, Jesus is narrowing the field even more. Those who own the kingdom are not only those who have suffered as the outcast in this life, but those who, in the midst of that suffering, acted like Jesus in His mercy for others.

In general, God isn't interested in helping people who don't need it, or don't THINK they need the help.  God is offering salvation.  What is that salvation?

A kingdom for the poor
Comfort for the weeping from oppression
Land for the meek
Justice for those desiring justice
God's presence for those whose purity isn't seen
Mercy for those who show mercy
Leadership for those who create peace
Deliverance for the persecuted

For those who don't desperately seek the salvation of God won't get it.  Those who desperately need it and seek it and demand it, will.

This means God's kingdom is for the poor and needy and outcast more than anyone else.

Bad Day

"There's just too much confusion, I can't get no relief." -Bob Dylan

You Must Choose A Side...

The whole "liberal"/"conservative" name calling, bashing, narrow-mindedly-assuming-their-opinion posing is a load of BS. I just saw a blog my friend posted and it basically said that anyone who stood with Chic-fil-a is of Satan. That's insane.

Often I am labeled as "liberal" because I'm anti-war and I give my life to serve the homeless. Other people consider me conservative because I think the bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin and abortion is the killing of an innocent human being.

 I'm not though. I am trying my best to stand with Jesus. And standing with Jesus means that at times you will stand against the conservative position and sometimes against the liberal position.

 It doesn't have anything to do with using other people's money, because both political positions do that-- they just disagree about what to do with the money, what the purpose of government is. 

I don't care what the government does with its billions of dollars. I care about what God's people do with their billions of dollars.

It is a crime for any church to spend money on themselves and not on the poor, the helpless and the oppressed, whether it is war victims, the homeless, the unborn, or homosexual victims of hate crime.

So many people point at the Catholic church as hypocrites in this regard. They are only the biggest offenders because they they've been around longer than any of us. But any church that has a building that has a room empty five days a week and does not use that space for the poor and oppressed at least some of that time is doing the same thing.

Not every church is disobedient to Jesus, but almost. If Jesus were here, he would shut down almost all churches and use the buildings to house the homeless, feed the hungry, educate the ignorant and provide a house of love to all who are unloved.

We have no right to point at Chic-fil-a, or liberals, or another denomination or our neighbors or our internet friends. If we are not spending our time helping the needy, whichever needy we are called to help, using our resources to help them, then we need to look at ourselves and shut up about anyone else.

Is the Importance of Movies Unhealthy?

Joseph Piroutek asks: How do we all feel about the large role film plays in society?  I am fascinated by film, and the messages that are presented through it. I draw a great deal from movies, and maybe read too much into them. I'm not the only one, but is this unhealthy or normal?

My answer:
I think that film is a way of expanding our potential experience.  Most of us have never been in war, but the right war movie can give us a hint of it, like Saving Private Ryan or Full Metal Jacket.  Most of us have never been homeless, but a movie like Wendy and Lucy can give us a sense of what it might be like.  Thus, rightly done, film can increase our empathy.

Of course, it depends on why we watch film.  Film as escape is important and for some of us, necessary.  What's funny is that films such as Sullivan's Travels and Purple Rose of Cairo can cause us to reflect on what that escape really means and why it is important or not.

Film is just another means of communication, like novels.

Especially the Household of Faith

Question in Theologue's Roundtable, a Facebook group:

In Galatians 6:10, "Do good to everyone, especially those of the household of faith", is emphasis put on doing good to all, or on focusing on believers?

I think that the love has to do with prioritization. We are to love all, which is not just an attitude but an action and in giving. Its easiest to see in giving. We are to love everyone, but none of us have enough resources to meet everyone's need. So we prioritize. First, we provide for our families. If we have more (and almost all of us do), then we provide for ministers of the word (Gal 6:6). If we have more, we provide for those in our community of faith (Gal 6:10). If we do-- and most of us do-- then we provide for those outside the faith. Often it is difficult to tell the difference between someone in the faith and out-- after all, the woman holding the sign at the end of the ramp could be a believer or might not, or she may be an angel testing you. So it's best to give if you don't know. This goes the same with time and gospel and compassion and comfort... ect. 
The problem with the church is that we often lavish our resources on just a few, which means that we are constantly leaving others out of the love we have to give. We give love, but only to our family or congregation. Few will believe in God's grace unless we take the time to show them God's grace.

I got two "likes" for this answer, which is okay.

Revolution Coming

This country is filled with injustice. Corporations and the rich receive all the benefits, while the poor are thrown in jail for small offenses. Laws are unfair and you can’t get fair treatment in the courts. And the people don’t care. As long as they have their television, they are subdued and will do nothing to change what has existed since before they were born. The few who actually try to change things either get caught up in the same system themselves or they are rendered impotent by the locked system.

Nothing can be done.

But a revolution is coming.

This revolution is introducing a new government who listens to the cries of the oppressed and looks to make a real change for them. Not just changing those in power, but offering a whole new structure of government. A structure where the poor and just will rule. Where laws are given because they encourage love and justice—not the agenda of the rich. Where there will be enough food and shelter and warmth for everyone, even the poorest and the lowest. No one will have their power cut off, no one will be without light, no one will be without heat, no one will be without food. Those with mental health problems will be listened to, not just dictated to, and they will be healed. The elderly will be cared for as honored citizens, not as outcasts. This government is concerned with everyone—especially the poor and oppressed— not just in keeping their own power and authority.

This new government has already begun in this country. This revolution is an underground movement that has ties to movements in other countries around the world. This movement already has some small facilities that feed the poor, care for the elderly and assist those with mental health problems. This movement is teaching its doctrine to millions. And its time has come.

The movement has many names. Some call it Ekklesia. Some call it The Anawim. Some call it the Way. Some call it the Truth. Some speak of the Martyrs. It is all of this—and more.
When the Anawim take over this country, the rich and powerful will be put down and the corrupt will never take up power again. When Ekklesia rises to power, both the Republicans and the Democrats will be rejected as the greedy, corrupt groups they are. When the Way takes power, every nation in the world will be reshaped and the economic structures will be destroyed. When the Truth is raised, every corruption and hatred will be exposed. When the Martyrs come, the poor themselves will rule—and rule better than the wealthy and powerful ever did.

How can this be? How can a small, poor, movement take over the governments of the world? How can there be a sudden change from the powerful to the oppressed ruling? Who will begin this revolution? Who leads this underground movement? Who started it all in the first place?

All this can be explained by one word: Jesus.

Jesus began this movement 2000 years ago. He announced the coming of a new government that would cause the structures of humanity to falter. And when that new government came, it would establish the poor and merciful as the rulers of the world, while the rich and powerful would be destroyed, receiving nothing. Jesus spoke about the corruption of religion, of rulers and of the church. And all the corrupt would be thrown out of the new nation, and the meek would take over.

Jesus’ movement is not what is commonly called "the Church." From the early fourth century the establishment church has united themselves with the corrupt governments of the world and participated in partisan politics. Jesus rejected all earthly politics and instead established a community that assists the oppressed and needy and follows his new laws of non-reciprocity, care for those who hate you, equality for all in the community, and open sharing of all wealth.

The establishment Church has never followed this ideal—some of them even promoting war, greed, national partisanship, hatred and revenge. There have been smaller movements throughout history that have held these ideals—the early Waldensians, the early Franciscans, the Anabaptists, the early Pentecostals and others. However, these movements have always been a minority, and most of them were corrupted by the establishment Church.

In the end, the establishment Church structures will be destroyed by Jesus himself. All of those who call Jesus "Lord" will be tested, and many of them will be cast out of Jesus’ new government. Jesus said, "Why do you call me ‘Lord’ but do not do what I say? When I come, there will be many who say, ‘Lord, didn’t we do this, didn’t we do that? Didn’t we heal people? Didn’t we cast out demons?’ I will tell them ‘Get out of here. I never knew you.’ "

So forget about what the Church has done to you—Jesus will bring justice. Forget about what this or that "Christian" has done to you—Jesus will only allow those who truly followed his principles to rule. And those who want to see the world become just and loving will turn to Jesus.

Are you tired of your government? Trade it for a new one. Instead of having a corrupt leader guide you, make Jesus your leader. Make Jesus your president, your king, your Lord. Begin to follow his principles of enacting love to everyone—even those who hate you, of giving up your life of this age and begin living for the revolution.

We Need the Poor as Much as They Need Us

The poor give to the rich the opportunity to be Christlike.

The well-fed can feed the hungry
The healthy can care for the sick
The wise can give knowledge to the fool
The housed can give room to the homeless
The loved can give love to the despised

Thus are all fed, all well, all wise, all housed, all loved

Thus is Christ's body whole.

We Need The Poor More Than They Need Us

"I firmly believe that our salvation depends on the poor."
   -Dorothy Day,
co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement

The Need for Beauty

"Lead us to the place where you'll restore our souls and all our earthly strivings come to cease."
    -Tim Hughes

Practical Tips For Caring for the Terminally Ill

Recently, my church has been involved in caring for someone who has cancer and a brain injury. This has stretched us all in the Community House and is very stressful, especially when he makes choices that is bringing him quickly closer to death. Not everyone will have hospice to care for them. And most of us will find ourselves needing to care for a parent, friend or other family member who has no one else to care for them. Having the experience of caring for someone waiting for death is not just for saints, but is a common human experience, full of grief and perhaps some satisfaction.

Sylvia LaFrance is a friend of our community, and has spent years in caring for the terminally ill. This is a letter she wrote to her dautgher in 2000, who asked for advice when the daughter needed to care for a terminally ill man. I found it to be chock full of helpful tips, so I pass it on to you.

Dear Sarah Jo,

Well, you don't ask my advice often, but the questions you do ask are doozies. I have worked in the field of care giving for thirteen years now and I don't know what I know. I'll do my best to give you something to work with, in this time of sadness, challenge, and liberation.

I'm sending you a whole stack of books. All of which I have called on at one time or another in my care giver role. Start practical. Read the books on the physical care giving first and get comfortable with the fact that you will be touching "your patient". He will become progressively weaker and disoriented, so it is important that early on you establish trust with him. Be "the one" who he can always count on to give him straight answers to his questions. Don't take any guff, and don't back down if it is in his best interest. But keep in mind, your part of this is to pray daily for wisdom and a kind spirit. He will be going through extremes of emotion and bodily defugelties that he has never known before. You will be the one to be there when everyone else has gone home and he doesn't have to be on good behavior anymore.

Next read Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's books On Death and Dying and Death ~ The Final Stage of Growth. Both will give you tools you will be able to use. The rest of the books might be interesting reading while you are just hanging out and he's napping or whatever. I was never bored being a caregiver, but I always made sure I had some good books on hand to read. There is something quite philosophical about being with terminally ill people. There is no avoiding the question of life ending and what happens next. It will be a period of great growth for you that will give you a rounding out of personality that comes with great responsibility.

On this touching thing, for me it was the way I could convey many things that words just didn't seem to cover. Start small, a pat on the shoulder. I took care of Michael, a gay man, for almost five weeks before he would let me touch him, I persisted in the small touch. I knew we had arrived as patient and caregiver when one day, in the kitchen, he dropped his pants and said, "Look at this thing on my butt, it hurts, and I don't know what it is." I looked at his butt, there was a red thing, I got some Neosporin and rubbed it on. He pulled up his pants and from that time on he would let me do anything to him without embarrassment. I had to wait until he was ready, and realized I was the best physical ally he had.

The nursing part of the situation includes keeping the bed clean and tight. But, when making the bed, put a pleat in the bedding about a foot from the foot of the bed, it makes room for the feet and doesn't create what they call "drop toe". Keep the surrounding area as orderly as possible, given all the stuff you have to bring in. If possible keep a next room for storage and keep the bedside area as everyday real as you can. There is a lot to be said for him having familiar things around him. Books, even if he doesn't read them, if he is a reader, can bring comfort. Pictures of his loved ones. A flower in a jar. You know what I mean.

It is paramount that he and his surroundings be as clean as possible. Bathe him daily. If you need to shave him, use a hot towel and soak the whiskers for a minute or so while you assemble a basin, shave cream, a washcloth and a new razor. Use the washcloth to hold the skin taut, and shave with short strokes in the direction the hair grows. Use aftershave, and tell him how good he smells. At first you may need to stand outside a cracked bathroom door while he showers. Big rule is that you NEVER leave a patient unattended in a water situation. Clean bedding. Being sick leaves people feeling "unclean" and the better things feel and smell, the less that feeling can play itself out.

Always have a choice of things to drink, fresh, at his bedside. Keep meals simple and small. Just keep attractive snacks at hand. He may eat a pudding, when he would just push away a full meal. Keep in mind that cancer cells thrive on Vitamin C. There may be nausea. Root beer is my best cure for that one. If you run into this let his Doctor know right away, there are some medications that address that. Zofran is the best I ever had for Christina, $40 a pill, but quite effective.

Follow his lead if the suggestion is made about chemo. Only he knows what he is willing to tolerate. It would possibly make more days, but what of the quality of those days. Would I want to spend my last days on earth with poison in my system that made me throw up a lot and made my hair fall out. Consider dignity.

Part of your role, as a caregiver, is to regulate the company he has. Not who he can see, and who he can't, but what is his strength and interest level in the person/persons coming to see him. I have seen a "Friends Night" one regular day a week work out well. You will be the one answering the phone, as a rule, and you need to ask him what he thinks. If he does not want to see the caller, for whatever his reasons are, you make gentle apologies and suggest a later time might be more suitable. i.e. "He had a really bad night last night, and I think he should rest today." You take responsibility for the turndown. They may not like you, but he will love you for it.

When there is company, try to keep the visits in keeping with short, sweet time together. Treat the company as honored guests, serve them coffee or whatever, make the atmosphere as social as possible. But if someone is droning on about their problems, call them aside and show them something. Change the subject. And if it continues, you can always say "I really hate to see you go, but it is time for his______ (whatever), and I'm afraid we are slaves to this darn schedule we have to keep. And just stand there beside them, with the expectation of them leaving, until they take the hint and go.

Try for as regular a schedule as possible, keep a calendar at the bedside with appointments, or upcoming events marked, and mark off the days as they pass. Illness can be disorienting and the more you can fix them in time and space, the more comfortable they will be. As time goes on, comment on the weather, or near holidays, observe the holidays. Just a small token, not a wholesale change their whole darn world thing.

Talking is one of your most important functions. It should be done with a positive, realistic tone. I don't know if he is a religious person, but if he is draw that into the conversation. Let him use it for strength. Talk about death as "the natural order of things". It is every bit as natural to die, as it is to be born. Ask him if he feels ready to go, or if he has unfinished business. If he does, help him to do whatever it takes to accomplish a sense of peace. If he is not a religious person, it is late in the day, and he has already made his choices. It is not a time to superimpose your beliefs on him. I have never seen anyone not respond positively to hearing someone was praying for them.

Let him reminisce about his life. If you can get him to talk and it seems appropriate, use a tape recorder to take down his stories so his family can have them someday. Have him talk to his grandchild who is about to be born. I would give anything to have had something like this from my Grandmother Sherrick, who I never got to know. I think the whole thing here is feeling out the situation and doing what is right for that person. Suggest things. If you get a positive response to something, do that. If not, don't bring it up again.

Be aware of comfort levels of light, sound, and heat. A too bright room can get wearing on someone who is trying to sleep/doze; a too dark room can be depressing on an ongoing basis. Day and night there should be some source of light in the room for orientation, if just a night-light. For heat, feel his feet; it's a good indicator of what his body is doing. A pair of white cotton socks can create overall comfort. Try to keep the bedding warm, but lightweight. You don't want to create pressure. For sound levels, do what is "normal" for him. TV, radio, stereo, etc., generally keep as low as possible, but not a muttering annoyance. If he wants quiet let him have it for intervals. Don't forget though that these six months or whatever is part of your life too. If you are in the kitchen and want some tunes. Go for it. Just never so loud as he needs to yell to get your attention. Check with Mary and see where she got Mom's caller she uses. It's a portable pushbutton that rings a doorbell, and the sound carries so you are not anchored to a room.

Transferring: You will need to learn how to transfer your patient in the right way, so as not to hurt him or you in the process. To get them out of a chair and into a wheel chair, you put the wheel chair at right angles to the chair and LOCK THE WHEEL CHAIR. You have your patient move forward on the chair. (If he can't do it himself put a pad, heavy weight cotton about a yard square with waterproof backing, under him before he sits, and use it to pull him straight forward to the edge of the chair using the pad to grip. You can also use this technique getting out of cars.) If you have an awkward person to move, get and use a gate belt. It's just a heavy woven belt you put around them and fasten into place, so you have something solid to hold onto. You lift straight up to a standing position, use a weightlifter stance with your legs doing the work and your back straight. Hold them as close as possible to your body, you are using your center of balance and not theirs. Plant your feet. Count. One-two-three-move. Make the transfers as smooth as possible. In getting someone in or out of the bathtub, you have them sit on the edge of the tub, put one of your feet on a non-skid place on the floor and plant the other on the back edge of the tub so you are stable. Then, back straight, you do your lift or controlled drop into the tub. When your person is wet, always use a towel or washcloth to grip them so they don't slip and fall. A transfer from the bed: Put wheelchair back even with top of bed. Remove side arm rest nearest the bed, LOCK THE CHAIR, and drop side rails as low as they go. If they are getting up, put bed higher than the chair. If they are returning to bed put bed lower than the chair. You always want gravity working for you. It's important that the person knows what is going on. Tell them every time you transfer what you are doing and what they can do to help. Ask them if they are ready, and wait for an answer.

While we are on the subject, for a person to retain his self-respect, it is best to have him do for himself whatever he is capable of. Don't create an invalid. The time will come, and too soon, that he won't be capable, and that is the time to gradually absorb their responsibilities. You will know.

If a patient falls, shouldn't ever happen, but sometimes does. Check them out while they are still on the floor for breaks. If they are bigger than you are, get help to get them back up. While you wait, cover them and put a pillow under their head. Christina fell out of bed once and I called the Fire Department. They sent over some strapping lads and we were back in business. If you think you can handle it alone, remember the straight back and the solid stance. Falling can be traumatic for your patient. Be patient and soothing.

You need to ask him, while he's still got his head about him, if he has a will, a living will, someone with medical power of attorney. There are legal ramifications of what you are doing. A caregiver is legally bound to lay down their life for an infirm patient. If the house burns it is up to you to get them out. Have a plan for eventualities that would keep you safe in the process. More on this later if you have questions about what all this entails.

Don't try to take this all on as your own 24/7 project. Plan breaks for yourself. If necessary go through an agency and get relief as needed. You as primary care giver, have the right to interview, and pass on alternate care giving staff. If you need the help, contact Hospice. Their whole business is terminal care. They have many resources to draw on.

Medications: Keep detailed records of everything you do. Know the nature of the medications you are giving and be aware of whatever side effects might be connected with them. If in doubt, contact your guy's doctor, or your doctor's nurse is usually a good bet. Quicker response. Keep a daily journal of what you observe, and take your records with you to any Doctor appointments. Use the same rules of thumb that you use with your kids' medications. If something doesn't feel right, check it out. If you feel more or less of something is needed, let the Doctor know that too. Pain meds generally increase as time goes on. Keep in mind that with pain meds comes constipation; also keep records on bowel habits. This can be an area of major problems if not addressed. Rule of thumb, if they go more than three days without a BM contact the Doctor.

Get whatever tools you need to do your job. Beds: adjust to your working height when making them. Save your back everywhere you can. Keep handles from being exposed when not in use. It only takes one crack in the shins to teach you this lesson. A comfortable sleeping position in a hospital bed is the back slightly raised, and the foot also slightly raised. Position with pillows as needed so there is no strain on the joints. Keep the body fully supported without constriction or specific pressure to any part of the body. Be very aware of your patient's skin. Pressure sores can get ugly really quick. Anything red needs immediate attention! Keep the body lubricated with gentle massage on a regular basis. Keep patient turned at intervals. As weight is lost, this becomes increasingly important.

Generally when people are sick, they get a nasty taste in their mouths. It is very important that mouth care is done on a regular basis. Brushing teeth, and rinsing mouth with half mouthwash/half warm water keeps them comfortable. Having small hard candy at bedside is sometimes a good idea. I often use a new clean white washcloth, rinsed in very cold water to wipe out the mouth and tongue. Be careful for gag reflex. If you project any major dental problems, get them addressed while he is still well enough to benefit from them. You don't want abscessed teeth cropping up in the last couple of weeks and aggravating an already difficult situation.

Privacy: When you are handling naked people, keep in mind their right to privacy. Make sure all precautions are taken that they not be unnecessarily exposed and try to maintain a level of conversation that has nothing to do with their nakedness. I used to sing when showering my old ladies, so they knew what I was thinking, and they didn't feel leered at.

For yourself, dress comfortably and attractively as possible, wear light make-up, and a minimum of perfume. Sometimes people have real problems with smells. Wear quiet shoes. I'd hate to think I would spend my last days with someone drab and tired. Get as much sleep as you can while all this is going on. You will need it, as you are being the strong one, on whom many people will come to depend. Also, try to include your family in what is going on. This could be a valuable life lesson; they will look to you to see how you handle it. OK, this death thing, do we take it as what is, or do we freak out and struggle with it. The end is the same, but taken naturally can take the sting and the fear out of it. What we push away, we give strength to, and IT pushes back. No resistance, no fight. Acceptance in all things is the key.


Well, my darling brown eyed Sarah Jo, I don't know if this is what you had in mind when you called, but if there is anything I can do to help while all this is going on, just ask. This is a new journey for you, but one that you will never regret having taken.

I love you dearly every day.

Mom


P.S. One thing I neglected writing that I thought after the fact I should have is regarding the death itself.

The process of dying is one of the body shutting down. At the end there is a gradual cooling of the extremities and a mottling that occurs first in the feet and ankles, it is a sign to look for when the end is near. There is also a change of breathing that begins to sound like what they call a "death rattle". As I understand it, what the person is experiencing is similar to shock, there is a natural numbing, but frequently the caregivers response is to give more pain medication as a last ditch effort to "do" something.

In reality, the preparation on the caregiver's part should include making sure the person is as clean as possible, and that the bed itself is clean. Keep the persons mouth moist with a damp cloth; do not force liquids at this point. If they are aware, talk to them quietly and touch them, a hand on an arm - stroke them as a mother would a new baby. They are living the last moments of "their life". Pray silently for a quiet passage. Follow their lead, but be nurturing and hopeful. At some point you will go from talking to the body to talking to the spirit. There is something awesome about death. It brings you into an awareness of what life really is.

If there are other closer family present let (help if able) them do whatever is their custom. Sometimes there is a long wait that can get tedious, one of my ladies said she was never a religious person and thought it kind of phony to pretend on her last day, she wanted to hear Elvis Presley on her way out. Her family however was religious and there in force. Her husband and I put our heads together and I brought some Elvis gospel tapes from home that we played quietly in the background all day. It was perfect for her and them.

When the death occurs, let the family have a few minutes and then bring coffee or something cold to drink to another area, on the patio, the kitchen table or whatever. While they talk to each other, you clear out all the extra stuff in the area. Water glasses, meds, personal stuff, clothes, and clean off the tables. If small flowers are available, a small vase is a sweet touch. Flatten out the bed and arrange the body long, head on a pillow, take away all bedding except for a clean top sheet, which you will pull up to chin level and fold at top. The eyes dry out as death occurs, and if you cannot shut them, you may want to place a clean white folded washcloth over the eyes. Make sure the hair is combed for the last time together before the body is removed. You need space beside the bed for the gurney that the funeral home will bring to move the body. Make it easy on their staff by moving chairs or whatever out of the way between the bed and the door that will be used for removal.

Have the family come back in and spend whatever time they deem necessary for closure. Note the time of death when it occurs, and enter it in your nursing notes. Take another person with you and dispose of all medications in the toilet. Keep your reputation clean where it comes to meds. You need a witness to this disposal, just for your sake. If Hospice is involved in the case they will do this for you.

When things are quiet, call the funeral home, and ask if they will call the coroner. If they don't, you should have all numbers prepared ahead of time, and you should call them. Do not call 911!!! Any death called in to the police department has to be treated as a homicide, and a natural death has it's own procedure. Also call the Doctor and inform him of the time of death.

You may wait with the family, and sit with the body, or if you are more comfortable, start straightening from the back of the house forward. If it seems appropriate, you may want to prepare a light meal for the family. They appreciate not having to think about food, but as stressful as the situation is, they generally need something to eat before they get on with making their phone calls and contacting people. It calms the situation and makes life resume for them more naturally.

When the body is gone, gather all related laundry and start washing, drying and folding clothes and bedding, take out all trash properly bagged. Wipe down the hospital bed, and stack all medical equipment on or beside the bed. Do a once over lightly of the house, which will probably have visitors soon. Give all related nursing notes etc to the family, and ask them if there is anything else you can do for them. Keep a pot of coffee fresh. When you are done, then it is time for you.

Generally what I do is go home and take a long hot bath, get something hot to drink, and settle in with a paper and pen and put my thoughts on paper. Then get some sleep; you will be more tired than you can remember being in a very long time.

You may or may not attend the funeral or services for this person as you feel is appropriate. Generally it means a lot to the people who are left that you are there, and it is a time for them to say thank you, and they do. Many people fear death and they really appreciate someone else taking the responsibility for them. The strange thing is that once I had been there, I never saw death come as anything but a friend and a step forward to a new and better life of the spirit.

Motivation: Compassion

A recent study has found that religious people, in general, have less compassion than others who are not religious.  NPR article  This is odd, since it has already been shown that religious people tend to give more to charity than the non-religious. Study by Stanford

What does this mean?  First of all, that the religious give more out of duty rather than compassion.  It would be interesting to try to get the numbers that religious and secular people give to charities to the poor or give to political causes or one's own religious community.  It also means that duty is a more effective means of motivating giving rather than compassion.

For Christians, however, why should this be?  There is something terribly wrong with this.  Some Christians say, "The important thing is that we are giving, not the motivation for giving."  At least when I first posted the original study and concluded something was wrong, that was the response I got.  Obedience to the command of giving is what is important, not the motivation behind it.

I strongly disagree.  For a number of reasons.

First of all, to give out of duty means that giving is significant, not where we give.  Most Christians feel that it is sufficient to give to their church and their church primarily gives that money to staff salaries and property maintenance and growth.  Because there is little concern about compassion, little of the money actually goes where Jesus says it goes.  He never said, "Sell your possessions and give to the church."  The apostles didn't take the sacrifice of the people and give themselves good salaries, nor did they build any buildings.  Rather, they used the far majority of their funds creating programs for the poor.  (Acts 4-5)  The poor is where the majority of Christian funds should be given.  There is nothing wrong with salaries ("The worker is worth his hire") or buildings necessarily, but if the staff and buildings aren't used for the benefit of the poor, then we are disobeying Jesus command.  Thus, neglecting our true duty.

Secondly, we are supposed to have the character of God.  This isn't taught much in Christian churches, (sadly), but there is a strong theme in the NT about having the character of God. "Be imitators of God and walk in love" (Eph 5:1) "Love your enemies so you may be sons of your Father in heaven for he is kind to the ungrateful." (Matthew 5:42-43)

And most Christians do know that we are supposed to imitate Jesus.  And one of the main characteristics of Jesus is compassion for those in need.  "He had compassion on them." (Just in Matthew: 9:36; 14:14;  15:32; 20:34).  Jesus spent all of his time teaching and meeting people's needs.  He really had no other ministry.

If the church of Jesus has rejected compassion as their main motivation, but duty, they are no longer sons of God, who is "gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in merciful faithfulness."  Instead, we are slaves.  The slave does the duty of the Master because they must.  It is the son of the Master that sees his duty as being like the Master.

We all have a certain amount of empathy.  Without it, we cannot learn, we cannot live in societies or communities.  And we have the ability to exercise our compassion.  If we refuse to grow our compassion, we refuse to become like God, thus we are refusing to be children of God.   Yes, we can give out of duty, but then we remain slaves.

God deliver us from our limited moral vision.

Words Mean Things

"Islam" means "submission to God."

To submit to God is to submit to God's judgment.  To trust in God's will.  To not take judgment or vengeance into one's own hands.

Some Muslims-- "submitted ones"-- trust in God that much.  Some who claim the title of "submission" do not.

"Christian" means "devoted to Christ", namely Jesus, whom both the Qur'an and the New Testament names the Messiah.

One who is devoted to Christ will enact the words of Christ and will follow the example of Christ.  Jesus commanded those who are devoted to him to "Love your enemies."  You cannot kill your enemies and love them at the same time.

Jesus commanded all, "Don't judge by appearances, but judge with a right judgement."  He doesn't want us to look at those who claim to be Christians or who claim to be Muslims and to take their claims as accurate. Rather, he wants us to look at a person's actions and a person's words-- whether merciful or hateful-- and to see with accuracy whether they are truly submitted, truly devoted.

Let us not blame all "Christians" for what is done in the name of Christianity.  Let those truly devoted to Jesus represent Christians.

Let us not blame all "Muslims" for what is done in the name of Islam.  Let those truly submitted to God represent Islam.

And let God be the judge of the rest, who will judge all men according to their deeds.  

Wild Storm

"All my senses failed in the wild storm of love"
-Edmund Colledge 

Alone

When you feel all alone, the Light is still comforting you.