At hospice training last night we heard a panel of a Roman Catholic sister, two LDS women, one Anglo woman married to a Navajo medicine man for several decades, and the hospice chaplain presenting the Protestant point of view. (No LSD entheogen, no Taoist, no Quaker, no Buddhist, no Jewish, no Rastafarian, no Muslim, no Greek or Russian Orthodox, no Zoroastrian, no Wiccan, no Hindu, no Budo, no Atheist, no Sikh, no Agnostic, no Pagan, and so on. And no males.)
Of course the main message was that everyone believes fervently that their path is THE PATH and that as volunteers we were not to interfere with that in any way (which I think we knew already). Our role is to be quiet and listen respectfully. Shape-shifters. Of course I have spent several decades of my life as a psychologist doing exactly that -- keeping my own center while adopting the psychic shape of the other. Now I'll just do it with those who KNOW they are dying.
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And you'll do it as lovingly as anyone can, George! --Steve
ReplyDeleteIf your face was the last in my vision field,
ReplyDeleteI would feel surrounded by uncobditional love.
Anyone who knows you would feel the same.
Listen on..so clearly your gift,
Love, Maleita
While dining at Mama Luisa's recently I became a Pastafarian, a follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And I want to saucily object to the hospice group -- and even you -- not mentioning my fine religious entanglement. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSteve and Maleita,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind encouragement.
When you go upon safari
ReplyDeleteto find your pastafari
I hope you won't be sorry
and not find it until tomorry
If this verse makes you gag
causes your spirits to sag
come down to the hospice
for your free pasta poultice