Grappling with My End of Life Decision

Over the years many people have asked me to formulate my opinions on how my experiences have changed. It’s very ironic that my first paper I wrote was on grappling with end of life decision making. In fact, I had just finished this paper within 15 minutes of the bad news. Below is that paper.

GRAPPLING WITH MY END OF LIFE DECISION

INTRO
Several people wanted to hear more about how my journey has impacted me. I realize that this won’t be for every one. I also realize that the list of names this goes to is very diverse. You are in quite different places spiritually, life station, personal situation and with differing interest levels. Please feel free to discard this. I don’t have a lot of ego in it. It is more or less an outline designed to give scriptural clarification and perspective. If you come across a statement where you have wisdom for me, I’ll gladly take it. If I can help unlock more for you, let me know. No promises. I’m certainly not the Bible Answer Man.

STARTING OUT
For a long time I had deliberated on what I have believed about the proper time and circumstances surrounding the idea of when are we sustaining life versus prolonging death; when do I say enough is enough if the decision needs to be made. In my experience most people approached the decision from the same direction as I once did. We try to make up rules for possible situations and control decisions as they come up.

This is a real screwed up way to make this decision. We take control away from God who has ultimate wisdom and place that responsibility on ourselves. My thinking needed a fresh paradigm shift. I first decided that God leads by perfect love, grace and principles, not rules, laws or circumstances. Getting the correct perspective is so important when embarking on making an important decision or formulating life directions.

GETTING A CORRECT BASIS
God and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ are key and central to all life decisions. This is where it must begin. There are so many facts and truths to study. I will list some things pertinent to my decision making process on this subject. So much could be said but it will be up to you and your journey to fill in more details. Each truth needs to be studied deeply. Because of my long and arduous journey with illness I now have a much different perspective than I had a few years ago.

TRUTHS THAT ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO LIFE

1. God loves each of us perfectly and ultimately. His love and presence are forever ours when we trust Him.


2. God is the giver and sustainer of life. He loves life, both physical and spiritual.


3. God leads my life by love and relationship; love from Him just for me and love from Him to give in my relationships with others.


4. God is the final and supreme source of wisdom and truth that is reflected in His perfect plan for each of our lives. He makes no mistakes.


5. Our success is not measured by all we can do or by all that we have acquired. (The one with the most toys will still die and he won’t take any of them with him). It is whose lives we impact in a positive way.


6. God’s strength is perfected through my weakness. He gives me the strength to say “I can do this” with each new day.


7. God has created us individual and unique beings.

IN CONCLUSION
It is very strange that we cling to life here on earth when reality is that we will be going to a far greater place. Why then do we so fiercely resist the end of life process and fear death? Just as we are uniquely created, so will each of our end of life journeys be unique. Some of us will die quickly while others of us may linger in a long process. Some will have opportunities to question end of life options and others will have none. The most important question I have asked myself and will continue to ask myself in regards to this issue is, "God are you finished with me yet here on earth? Are you telling me that it is time to stop attempts at sustaining life and allow life’s natural progression? Is this the time I am to cross over the thin line of sustaining life or prolonging death?”