“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
Exodus 20:8 (NIV)
I was drawn to my latest read, L. S. Dugdale’s book. “The Lost Art of Dying”, by an older book with a similar title. Her physician account of the current state of medicalized dying in America is a very accurate report of a reality that is hidden from public view but is all too obvious to those who work within the walls of the “healthcare industry”. What is wonderful about this book is that it makes “visible” realities of dying that are seen with wonder, awe and reverence.
The main characteristic of reverence is a kind of “reflexive stillness” that we have all experienced. It is a deeply beautiful moment in time and sometimes even a season of our lives. For many of us, we experienced this stillness during the recent Covid pandemic. We slowed down. We saw bluer skies and we breathed cleaner air. It was a sabbath season.
Dr, Dugdale makes a powerful case for rediscovering this reverence as we live with and the reality of our finitude. She emphasizes that cultural and religious practices help us live into this mystery that awaits us all.
Thanks for Dr. Dugdale’s healing work of words and art.
Marvin
Postscript: Dr. Dugdale’s presentation at the 2024 Calvin University January Series will occur on 1/23/24.
References
Dugdale, L.S.. The Lost Art of Dying (pp. 131-132). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Verhey, A. (2011). The Christian Art of Dying: Learning from Jesus. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Hage, M. L. (2011). Healing - Other Views.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/08/healing-other-views.html
Hage, M. L. (2012). The Awe of Healing
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2012/01/awe-of-healing.html
Hage, M. L. (2016). Healing Hospitals.
http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2016/11/healing-hospitals.html
