The Courage to Face Death and Dying
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
On Wednesday, I am meeting with the Senior High Youth Group to discuss death and dying. I feel apprehensive because the topic could take months of dedicated discussion, and I have an hour. Yet, our youth have been watching the horrific murders in Ukraine. Close to home, the shooting at East High School made the issue of death and dying a shocking reality. In a moment like the East High shooting, each youth’s mortality becomes an immediate concern.
In the short time I have with them, I want to focus on a couple of key themes. First, death is something that happens to all of us. Rather than scare the youth, it is my task to help them prepare for the deaths of those they love and recognize that death is a reality for them. Facing death with spiritual integrity means living a life that matters in the time we are given. Death talk can sound harsh, but it is cruel to have youth unprepared when the moment of despair arrives. Yet, preparing for the eventuality alone does not provide peace and hope.
The second aspect of the presentation on death and dying provides hope and trust. Hope is offered by talking about God’s grace and mercy. No one lives a perfect life, and the youth need the reassurance that we do not earn our way into heaven. Then, we will share Scriptural affirmations of God’s promise of eternal salvation. Finally, we will discuss how each youth can provide spiritual care in moments of suffering and loss. Tangible examples of how to provide care will be shared and discussed.
Today, please pray for our youth as they grapple with the most challenging topic of their lives. The survival instinct is our most vital human characteristic for each of us. Of course, it takes divine care to face our deepest fears, but in the depth of uncertainty is where God’s Holy Spirit is most accessible. So then, pray for your concern of death and dying. Ask God to provide you with trust and the wisdom to be a minister in moments of dying and death. The Holy Spirit will guide you through the pain and loss if you invite God into the experience.
