Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Quote of the Day: What Kind of Death Will We Have?
“I am very old, and fortunate that someone so lovely as Abishag the Shunammite ministers to me every day. In another minute or two, she will be completed with her preparations and come to my bed. I will treasure the warmth and sweetness of her. You think that makes me happy? You think I’m at peace now with my Maker? Anything but. I am thinking of God now, and I am thinking of Saul. I think of Saul in his wordless gloom and torment every time I came to his chamber to play for him, and I realize as I remember that I never saw a sadder face on human being until a little while ago, when Abishag the Shunammite held a mirror up for me to see and I looked at mine.” — from God Knows, by Joseph Heller
One of my favorite books, God Knows tells the story of King David from his perspective in his age. As Scripture relates, when David was an old man he was unable to stay warm, and so a beautiful young virgin was given to him to minister to him and keep him warm in his bed. In Heller’s book, David appreciates Abishag’s comeliness, but he only feels desire for Bathsheba, whose only desire is for her son Solomon to be king.
David tells his story (“I don’t like to boast — I know I boast a bit when I say I don’t like to boast — but honestly I think I’ve got the best story in the Bible.”), from his youth through the fight with Goliath and his relationship with Saul. He tells about Jonathan, Abigail, and Bathsheba. He tells his regrets, and he comments on Michaelangelo’s statue of him uncircumcised. The book is very very funny, and very wise, and very sad.
The book closes with one of the saddest sentences in literature:
I want my God back, and they send me a girl.
Later this morning I will be attending the funeral of a friend. I did not know him that well, I know his wife better, and used to participate in a homeschool co-op with his children, but we’d only met a few times. However, I know from one of my best friends who is very close with the family, that he did not die with regrets, other than that he would be leaving his children and wife unprotected in this dangerous world. But he himself was at peace with God. He never lost him.
Here is a video of my friend speaking about his trip to Lourdes. He was confident he would be healed, and instead he died, but all his trials increased his faith. Standing several distances removed, I could feel the holiness coming from the man and his family.
At the wake last night, at the funeral today, there is sorrow and weeping, but none of the ugly sharp regrets that David felt. Instead, there is love and comfort. May we all have such a holy and a good death.
Published in Group Writing
MT, peace go with you today! My boss once said: “There’s a difference between ‘healing” and ‘cure’. Not all are cured, but everyone is healed.” Amen.
What better life than one that ends by going with G-d.
Peace and comfort to those left behind.
Two thoughts from the funeral Mass today, which was held on Vassar College’s campus in their chapel.
The Vassar chaplain said that although we are sad, “our hearts are broken with love, and we rejoice.”
The priest who gave the homily asked us to pray, “Andrew, you do not belong to death but to Christ.” Amen.
What a lovely Thanksgiving eve gift for us all. Thank you.
Something to ponder. I had an encounter with the miraculous myself recently – something akin to Lourdes, in its own way. My priest reminded us all that healing can come in many different forms, and what is granted is what we need, not what we want, and that healing may be physical, or it may be spiritual. I would hazard a guess that your friend did find healing at Lourdes, but it was not for your or I to say with any certainty what that was. Perhaps he had anxieties for the lives of his family? Perhaps he had his own, and The Lord assured him. We cannot know. But I would say he very likely was healed of something, something that helped him to die at greater peace.
Someone wrote to us after we lost our son, “It is a joy to mourn as believers.” I think of that often and believe it is so true.
Thanks MT, what a wonderful post!