Column: Information Station

February 2008

Mother Teresa has come under attack recently. According to diary excerpts, her faith was often threadbare. Instead of a sense of God’s presence, she said that darkness enveloped her; she felt spiritually dry; the One she served was silent.

Still she persevered, leading the Sisters of Charity into the streets daily, saving some and helping the rest to die knowing they were loved. That’s what caregivers do.

Civilized societies believe that, since human beings were created in the image of God, every life matters. Jesus certainly demonstrated that during his life on earth when he touched those who were considered untouchable. As a matter of fact, they were the people who seemed to matter to him most.

When my husband, John, was dying, Hospice nurses and aides soothed my tired, troubled soul with the quality of their tender, gentle care of him. At the same time, they were straightforward. Death, they seemed to indicate, is a natural consequence of the fact that we have been alive.

The years that I cared for John taught me how much those who are creeping toward death need us. My friend Dan is one of them. Although he looks fit, he has a terminal illness and is going to die. Shall I abandon him and the others because I don’t know what to say? Or shall I help love them through when God gives me an opportunity?

Like Mother Teresa, wading into the muddy water of grief and pain can weigh us with uncertainties. Why, God? The late author, Joe Bayly, who lost a son to premature death, gave the best answer.

“I don’t know why, but I know God. And that is enough.”

His words free us to do what needs to be done. For Christ’s sake.

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