Let's discuss death

Most social functions and teas are probably not characterized by dialogues on death. Indeed, death is a subject to be avoided in the most refined and genial circles. Who goes to a party to eat crumpets, drink Earl Grey tea from a demitasse cup and discuss William Cullen Bryant's Thanatopsis?

In fact, we vainly try to soften the trauma of bereavement by using terminology that takes the sharp edge off the grim and morbid characteristics of death and makes the human exodus from this earth seem more palatable.

Undertakers are now funeral directors. Graveyards are memorial gardens. Gravediggers are called site preparation experts, and funerals are called ceremonial services.

However, the mortality statistics are unalterable. One out of every one person dies. God's word is clear on the subject: "... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

No matter how vigorously we try to avoid the subject of death we continue to be reminded of its reality, its inevitability and its imminence. For weeks the media has kept before us the impending deaths and ultimately the demise of both Terri Schiavo and Pope John Paul II.

First of all, I would like to comment on the death of Terri Schiavo and make an observation. I am unashamedly pro-life and assuredly believe in the sacredness of all human life as a precious gift from God. Nonetheless, I was astounded at the outpouring of support to preserve Terri Schiavo's life. Baptist Press reported "volunteers, doctors, lawyers, government officials and others ... waged a 'courageous battle' in an unsuccessful attempt to save the 41-year-old woman from death by starvation and dehydration."

Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his brother, President George W. Bush, got involved in the battle to save Mrs. Schiavo. The Federal Courts, the Supreme Court, and even the United States Senate and House of Representatives all were caught up in legal maneuvers to save the young woman.

Media crews by the dozens established quarters outside the hospice on March 18, the day Terri's feeding tube was removed, and kept a 24-hour watch for almost two weeks. "Camp Terri," as the media quarters came to be known, was the launching site for the around-the-clock coverage of Terri's deteriorating condition.

Then came Terri's death just after 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 31 - 13 days after the feeding tube was removed. Her death evoked a swell of emotion from the encampment outside the hospice and all across the nation.

Here is the observation: While I am not arguing against the just cause to preserve Terri Schiavo, it appears that we may need to re-evaluate our priorities. If we employed as many of our resources and spent as much time in trying to save the lost as we spent in trying to save Mrs. Schiavo we might not be engaged in the fierce cultural war we are fighting today.

Someone has suggested that our church prayer meetings are mostly organ recitals. We pray for Aunt Mary's kidneys and Uncle John's liver, and well we should. However, most churches spend precious little time praying for the lost, giving evidence that we are more interested in praying the saints out of heaven than praying sinners out of hell.

The Vatican in Rome released a statement about Schiavo's death avowing that her "death had been caused by an unacceptable violation of the sacred nature of life."

At the same time the pall of death was hovering over the Vatican. Pope John Paul II's physical condition was steadily deteriorating and he died three days after Schiavo, just after 9:37 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. After years of serious health issues, his condition grew precipitously worse until heart and circulatory collapse caused his death.

Regardless of what one thinks about the papacy, most would agree that Pope John Paul II was a bridge builder, an advocate of freedom and a man worthy of respect and admiration. Much of the world mourns his passing and Italian authorities were hard pressed to meet the logistical challenges created by the nearly three million people who came to see the Pope lie in state.

Stirring quotes and inspiring eulogies came from every corner of the globe commending and blessing the Pope for his ministry and service to mankind, but my observation at this point is that the Catholic church missed a great opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ. Perhaps even John Paul II would have wanted it to be different, that instead of people exalting the pontiff, they would have exalted "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords"(I Timothy 6:15).