“Our society has tried to make death invisible, thinking that if we ignore it long enough it will go away. Often we as family and loved ones are so afraid of death that even mentioning the word to terminal patients… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“There is such a tremendous need for spiritual guidance for those who are facing death, as a patient or with a loved one. Emotions and grief flood everyone involved. There are so many unknown factors. Many times doctors can predict what may happen physically, but no one can truthfully answer the big questions for us, questions like, What is dying… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“As I work with people who are new to being present with the dying, I ask them to remember two things. (1)Stepping back from the physical and medical concerns of the patient, we must now focus on the spiritual. Dying is more than the physical body shutting down, although that is certainly the primary view in our society. The body… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“There is a moment when the body is about to cease its natural functions, when it is important to accept that death is happening and to begin to let go, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I have learned the signs when something is preventing this from happening. Perhaps the family or friends cannot accept that the loved one is dying. Perhaps… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“I hear you." Angry words get louder when people do not listen. When a person is ill and dying, it seems as if no one understands what is happening. People are busy doing what is required for physical caretaking, but very often the inner needs of the person are ignored. Even if the dying person makes no sense, which is… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“I'm still here, in my body, and it hurts. I need to feel clean and soothed.” — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“The reality of the dying person is very different from that of the living. She is experiencing we cannot fully understand or enter into. If a person is conscious and able to talk, I always listen and take my cues from him. The desires of the dying, however nonsensical or puzzling they may be, are met. If the patient talks… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“I once asked a rabbi in a large congregation which prayers he used with the dying. "You mean the Mourner's Kaddish?" he asked, referring to the prayer recited on behalf of the deceased. "No," I replied. "I mean the prayers said when a person is actually dying." "Oh," he replied. "I don't know. I've never seen anyone die." He had… — Megory Anderson Copy Share
“Has the body a soul? No. The soul has a body. And well does that soul know when this body has served its purpose,… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“The process of dying is a difficult one, with many fears and anxieties, but it is also a very mysterious and wondrous process. It… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“I have often been asked to help pray in life and death situations, especially when loved ones cannot. It is hard to know how… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“The journey into death is such an important one that I believe each person deserves as much support as possible. The loved ones who… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
“Our society has tried to make death invisible, thinking that if we ignore it long enough it will go away. Often we as family… — Megory Anderson Copy Share Image
