So I was thinking today, about Truths.
Specifically, the truths in how we face death. The only line most
people know from Dylan Thomas is “Do not go gentle into that good
night\Rage, rage against the dying of the light”. And I have to
say I agree with that. There is a beauty and a power in refusing to
give in, in fighting to the last, in denying the reaper.
But then there's Death With Dignity.
There is also a beauty and a power in looking death in the eye and
saying “Okay, it's time, I'm ready.” To stand cleanly and step
forward, eschewing the desire to continue living simply to take
another breath.
What brings this about? Well, I work
in a hospital, and every day I walk past people who are on their way
to chemotherapy or some equivalent treatment. I've seen some of them
sunk in misery, dulled by pain and fuzzed by drugs. I've seen others
who go to their treatments with a light heart and talking with humor
and strength.
And I'm not sure which group is which.
That's the amazing part about it. I'm honestly not sure whether the
happy ones are the ones who are fighting death or those who are
simply moving forward as they need to, who will choose to lie down
and rest when the time has come. I suspect there are some in each
group, each person finding their own experience of dying, each person
expressing their own rage or dignity in ways that are entirely
personal.
I don't know how I will face death,
assuming that I have the opportunity, but I hope to bring both rage
and dignity to it. The drives for survival and for peace, merging
into a single drive for a beautiful moment upon which to end my
existence when no other choice is possible.
And hopefully a long time from now.
Say, long enough to get to the far side of the Milky Way and look out
onto the far side of the universe. Sounds about right.
344
No comments:
Post a Comment