Just Changing Our Perspective & Giveaway

Y'all know I live with Granny M, my 77 year old mom.  And currently Our Gentleman who is 66 and fighting throat cancer lives here too.  Then we have Dear Hubbys mother who has been in and out of the hospital quite a bit in her 81st year of life.  Well, when you have the last generation in life living with you, you also talk about the next step in life.  Death.

Yes, most everyone shields away from that thought.  But hey, it is going to happen.  Have you met anyone who has cheated death for good?  No I don't think so.  I know that sitting with my own father when he was fighting to die was a heart breaking event.  But it was also one of release of pain that brought peace to me too.

Image by UK Pictures via FlickrSo what is it that does just that.  What brings a person peace in knowing they are going to die.  Or how can a family deal with that certainty with both love and a inner calmness?  For most it is a belief.  That they are going on the next journey of life.  One that they take from their soul instead of the body.  There are different beliefs and different ways of dealing with it.

Neil Hanson shares the truths that came to him in 'Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty' (his first book) when his own father passed.  I am glad that a few years have passed since my dad left but this book was one to touch that well of indecision that I had at first.  It was so soul wrenching hard to "wake" my father from a drug induced coma (to keep him out of pain) only to tell him that he was going to pass instead of get better.  He went into that coma willingly thinking that a surgery was going to help him.  We only found out afterwards that no surgery would happen due to the acceleration of his disease.  And that to be in any kind of waking form he would be in unbearable pain.  Holding his hand as Dear Hubby explained the results to my father, we faced a swirl of emotions and quick acceptance from him.  Not so much as he had already known this, but more so of if it was going to happen then let's go ahead and start that journey.  My Dad looked at life that way, straight forward, shoulders back and ready to take what was coming with grace.  So why would I not think he would take death the same way.

Neil tells in his book, "As the crush of grief washed out of me and the sense of detachment grew, I began to feel incredibly light and bright.  The dance that I had just experienced had left behind a brightness to the world, and the Soul within me continued to sing with the angels that I could still hear in the distance."  That section alone said what I had felt at the time of Dad's passing.  The fight with life was over finally.  The gasp for breath that wracked his body in pain, released.  And in that moment of deep sadness of loss I also experienced a wonderful peace.  Like I was cleansed from the inside from tears and all that was left was the shining love that I had for my Dad.

I do not think anyone wants to make those last decisions for their loved ones.  But they have to be made.  Weather if it be in early discussion of our desires.  We have a few of these very discussion with our parents as well as with our children for ourselves.  Or in a sudden fight of death, that we have to make quick ones for those we love.  Still they have to be faced.  What takes us through that process and still leaves us a peace.  The general belief is just that a belief.  In a better place like heaven.  Many feel that the energy of the soul will be sent back into the spirit of the world.  Some think that it is just over, finished.  But I do not know anyone who does not have so sort of belief.  We all fight over who is right and who is wrong.  That does not help.  Instead it is important to honor the soul within us.  The energy that creates our own lives.  That 'knowing' of what we feel at peace with is right.

In a world of highly effective medicine and life-support, Neils family faced the difficult and wrenching questions our culture must face:

• When does life begin and end? 
• What are the complexions of distinction between bare and primitive "life" on the one hand, and "human-ness" on the other hand? 
• Where and when and how do we "play God" with our decisions to withhold feeding tubes and respirators? 
• How do we face these questions, and work our way to effective answers?

My own father professed not to have a belief in a greater 'God'.  But at the very end of his life he did decide to find a peace for himself and made a commitment in his soul.  It may seem light but Dear Hubby and I tease about the many lil ol ladies in church.  "Studying for the finals" is a statement often said.  College Girl combines her own beliefs of Christian thought and a base of Wicca.  And my dear girlfriend at the end of her boyfriends life, stopped crying for him, stood up and said well he is no longer.  I have grieved over his life.  Now is time to live so let's go get ice cream.  What your spirit guides you to feel is very personal.  But it is in that feeling we all unite.

How our view changes when we do not see the familar.  

The world is set off center or we awake to the beauty that has surrounded us all along.

Just changing our perspective.

What a way to learn what we know anew.

--Lenore Webb

Thanks to Neil Hanson and Tribute Books for sharing 'Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty' with me.  I believe that had I read this before my father's passing I would have had a lil relief from the fear I experienced.  This is certainly a book that will help start conversations with your family.  And hopefully bring some answers at to what is believed and desired.  As always no pay, just a book that helped south my soul.

Yes!  Neil is giving a paperback to the first to comment on your post and a free ebook to all who comment on your post.

Following please find the info:

PAPERBACK GIVEAWAY (U.S. only)
1 copy of the paperback version of the book to the FIRST person who leaves a comment on a blog along with an email address.

EBOOK GIVEAWAY (International)
Copy of the ebook version of the book (in choice of format) to EVERY person who leaves a comment on any blog review along with an email address during the month of September 2011.

GIVEAWAY ENTRY REQUIREMENT
All entrants will automatically be subscribed to Neil Hanson's email newsletter. Contact information is NEVER shared, and subscribers can unsubscribe at any time.

Quiet Beliefs

Good morning! I have to say that because it is the wee hours of the morning. The only time that my internet seems to wish to work. And Verizon is slow in fixing it apparently. The guy on the phone in Mexico seems to think they are working on it. But I am not seeing any change after our 2 hour phone conversation yesterday. So before I make coffee and while I am hitting the wrong keys here let me get to business today.

First I wish to remind you that you have a chance to win 1 of 3 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New You books right here. Easy, Smeasy. Just click and comment!  Make sure you do that as there are few entries.

Now since I am typing to you I am not doing one of my morning things.  You see this is my time when all are still sleeping.  I can fix my coffee, do my chores and have private time.  Some of that time is for my prayers and bible study.  Yeah, I am a closet Christian.  Why do I say a closet Christian?  Well because my faith is inside.  I am not loud and out spoken as many believe we should be.  What I feel and believe is deep inside and actually I protect it quite well.  And I feel it is very private too what one has deep in their heart.  I grew up in a time of Southern Bible Thumpers.  I did not enjoy church at all then.  It was loud and for a young girl pretty scary.  Hell and Brimstone does not touch my heart but did create a very big fear.  One that actually drove me away from church, God and belief for a good long time.  It took some major events to create the change in me to see out God once more.  I will not go into that now.  But in time I sought out more and learned in a much quieter fashion.  One that worked for me.

But I do not think that I am very far from the norm anymore.  I believe that there are many quiet or closet Christians out there.  I do not think that Christianity in America is falling away.  I feel it is being internalized more.  Gabe Lyons has a book, The Next Christians, that falls somewhat into this belief.  Of course we are not on the same page, but I  am rarely on the same page as anyone else.  I do like that he is seeing a change in the course of people and how they react now.  In his book he talks about 'the restorers' and I feel there is great truth there.  That Christians now are not looking to offend or criticize but to help provoke thought and create the desires to seek out the truth of our beliefs.  I really like that more and more pastors (you insert your word for them here) are feeling called into service and not seeing it as employment.  I know I want a leader in the church who can guide me to learn more and to dig deeper.  Not someone to point a finger at me.  That as Christians we are to be grounded in our beliefs and have it as a natural part of our lives.  Where our community practices as a group by supporting each other and charitable works.  There is a big shift or change in the way religion is being viewed.  And I just feel it is one where we are bringing our beliefs closer to our heart or core and not wearing on our sleeve so much. 

Well I guess that was a sermon from me.  Sorry was not my intention.  I know that is normally my time to study and gosh I just sorta let it out there with you.  I do wish to thank all of my readers for being here.  For the sounding board you give me.  I especially love the return I get from comments, emails and the friends I have made here.  It is great also that I have had the chance to review so many books and items here.  I do wish to remind you that I do this because I enjoy it.  I do not get paid for the reviews I do.  I may get a book or video in order to see what I am talking about.  But that is it.  Holler at me sometime soon.  Tell me what you like, don't like and wanna talk about.  And I think I will get back to making coffee now.  Good morning all!