Hurricane Irene; facing the storms in life; facing death.

My mother is in a hospital room under hospice care, having JUST been diagnosed with terminal cancer in June, facing the damage of a possible heart attack along with infection. She is a "sassy and spry" 87 year old and is IN THE DIRECT PATH of Hurricane Irene. They are currently receiving high winds and heavy torrential rain as of  Saturday, 1 p.m. EST. Most areas in North Carolina have lost power including my brother's home; about 2 hours WEST of where my mother is in Greenville, North Carolina.

Each day that we face brings its own challenges and pain, joys and triumphs; death seems to touch upon ALL of that. It challenges us to face our own mortality. Could we learn to be ready to stare the Grim Reaper right in the face but extend a welcoming hand to him? If we are not able or ready to do that, how do we prepare to "let go" of a loved one? The pain we feel in loss is something that we must work through both mentally and emotionally. We may be reminded of the joys of knowing and loving our loved one and we may find comfort and peace in such tender memories. We triumph in life when we boldly face and survive the difficulties of life which overcomes the challenges and pain (of separation) of death.

For the purpose of our own education and help to those we love who will face death, I strongly advocate and support that a  very non biased "End of life studies" class should be required for all high schoolers. A 6 week "internship" including visits to nursing homes and hospice units and a term paper examining the hearts of each young person titled "How I will face my own death" should be prequisite for high school graduation. Learning how to face our own mortality will help us face the loss in the death of a loved one. I completed a Hospice volunteer course and became a certified Hospice volunteer but had not used my newly found understanding with a person who was in the process dying until my dear friend Jeri Rinehart was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 74. She was an AVID Opera aficionado, a music educator and wonderful person who would "air" Opera's on DVD in her home in "surround sound" that my mother attended and enjoyed very much. Jeri chose not to undergo any chemotherapy and she lived her life longer than her prognoses allowed. Three of her friends who were also facing cancer chose to take chemo and they had even been "given" a better prognosis by taking it, all died several months prior to her passing. My Mother was diagnosed in 4th stage and also did not choose to take chemotherapy. She knew that Jeri had enjoyed her last days and I feel that by knowing this, loving Jeri and enjoying her life, that my mother was more able to also enjoy her own life; even so close to its end.

Facing a Hurricane and facing the death of a loved one have a view similarities, in many instances. Death will also pass through and leave it's damage and we will move on and live again; better knowing HOW to live after having lived through this loss.

Please remember to pray for the safety of ALL of those in Hurricane Irene's path. Loss is hard, but we CAN get through it and be better prepared for the next "storm" in our lives. Wishing you much hope and peace in whatever storm you find yourself facing today.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

(from the song: Til the Storm passes by  written by Bill and Gloria Gaither)