|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Spirituality
|
|
| |
 |
|
"As
I look at the end, I realize that there is something much
larger than I am. Reaching for this larger understanding
has helped me to forgive and to ask forgiveness. Now I
feel that the most important thing is to express the love
I feel for those around me. That, too, seems to be part
of the larger purpose of life."
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
What is spirituality?
Spirituality throughout our lives
is a personal experience. It has something to do with transcendence,
with faith, with the sacred, and with searching for answers
to life's mysteries. Our spirituality is found at the intersection
of the Divine and the Human, a time of sensing the presence
of that which is so much larger than our personal self. Because
it is such an intimate experience, it is different for each
individual. We often confuse spirituality with religious beliefs.
Our beliefs that have grown out of our experiences at a church,
mosque, or synagogue may, indeed, define our spiritual life.
But a person can be spiritual without following traditional
religious beliefs. We can also find the answers to our transcendent
questions through nature, the arts, music, or relationships
with others.
When faced with death we enter
into a time of emotional chaos. Those unanswerable questions
seem much larger. "What is the meaning of our lives?"
"Is there an afterlife?" We fear all of the unknowns
that dying brings with it. And these questions are all a part
of our spiritual
nature. When facing death we are less concerned with
the practical tasks of life and more with our hopes, our companionships,
and all of the decisions we might make that open us up to a
richer and deeper life. (Return to list)
Spiritual tasks of dying
What are the spiritual
tasks of dying? One of the most important tasks becomes
the need to seek closure in our relationships with family
and friends. Doing this unfinished work may involve forgiving
or seeking forgiveness of another. It may be the sharing of
our story or wisdom from our life's journey. It may be a time
of accepting our own worth and feeling the love and acceptance
of others. We may simply learn to say, "I love you."
In saying these words to others we may come to believe in
ourselves as worthy, loving people. And as our relationships
with others deepen, we find the support to face our suffering
and deepest fears. Living through the chaos of the dying journey,
we may find those long-asked questions not so frightening
to ponder. As we face death we travel through these uncertain
feelings and find a place of letting go. There we come to
accept ourselves, finding love and peace. (Return
to list)
Dying is a spiritual event
Dying, then, is not only a
physical process. It is a spiritual process as well. Within
the circle of our loved ones, we are given the opportunity
to grow into the largeness of life. Dying becomes a spiritual
event, perhaps the most important spiritual event
of our lives. (Return to list)
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
