Streams of Mercy

A dear friend from my first congregation is dying. She went to the ER with what she thought was a gall bladder attack, only to discover she has stage four pancreatic cancer, and has very little time. She was a strong and supportive Elder, a wonderful musician, ( her piano organ duet “Fairest Lord Jesus” was always my favorite!) the director of Hospice, where I served as Chaplain, and my very special friend in that season of my life. Being the daughter of a Presbyterian minister gave her great insights to help this fledgling pastor along the way!

We served on Presbyterian Pilgrimage teams together and loved and encouraged each other on life’s journey. I well remember the day I was visiting with her parents in their little apartment and they told me their daughter was moving to be near them. They hoped we would become friends. Little did I know how important that friendship would be in my life.

My prayer for her comes from John O’Donohue’s book, To Bless the Spaces Between Us.

For the Dying

May death come gently toward you,

Leaving you time to make your way

Through the cold embrace of fear

To the place of inner tranquility.

May death arrive only after a long life

To find you at home among your own

With every comfort and care you require

May your leave-taking be gracious,

Enabling you to hold dignity

Through awkwardness and illness.

May you see the reflection

Of your life’s kindness and beauty

In all the tears that fall for you.

As your eyes focus on each face,

May your soul take its imprint.

Drawing each image within

As companions for the journey.

May you find for each one you love

A different locket of jeweled words

To be worn around the heart

To warm your absence.

May someone who knows and loves

The complex village of your heart

Be there to echo you back to yourself

And create a sure word raft

To carry you to the further shore.

May your spirit feel

The surge of true delight

When the veil of the visible

Is raised, and you glimpse again

The living faces

Of departed family and friends.

May there be some beautiful surprise

Waiting for you inside death.

Something you never knew or felt,

Which with one simple touch

Absolves you of all loneliness and loss,

As you quicken within the embrace

For which your soul was eternally made.

May your heart be speechless

At the sight of the truth

Of all belief had hoped,

Your heart breathless

In the light and lightness

When earth and everything

Is at last its true self

Within that serene belonging

That dwells beside us

On the other side

Of what we are.

God bless you dear friend. So thankful our paths crossed on life’s journey.

“Pastor Elizabeth”