The Journey Begins

endourlifewell

As a former Hospital Chaplain who journeyed with the aging, ill and dying for nearly 5 years, the introduction of Medical Aid in Dying in Canada caused me grave concern. In the years since its legalization, I think MAiD has adversely affected the delivery of compassionate, caring healthcare and has had an extremely negative impact on us as a caring society. I believe we are living on the edge of seeing death-dealing as the answer to being a caring culture of hope that nurtures every person from their conception to their final, natural breath, because we no longer acknowledge, or put our faith in our having been created in the '...image and likeness...' of the Living God, Creator of all mankind. Our lives are being impacted by political decisions and legislation -- we cannot be oblivious to what is happening at that level, in this regard. We need to be ready for what comes next! The creeping culture of death will, in the end, consume us, and lead to more death, rather than our living in life sustaining hope and love for one another. Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), famously commenting on the rise of Nazism and the development of the death camps, penned a short ditty that includes these words: "First they came for (others)... and I did not speak out...because I wasn't one of them, Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." View all posts by endourlifewell