Day
however brought about a new perspective. Nurses speaking tenderly to the old
lady in pain, laughing and joking with the wards chatterbox, or sheltering the
embarrassed with an NHS no nonsense bed bath. Relatives arrived in the
afternoon pleased to touch the wrinkled hand, kissing the fevered brow,
bringing gifts new and familiar to brighten each small world. What struck me
most was the delight most staff and visitors shared in carrying a loved one’s
burden.
The
legislative fight for voluntary euthanasia is without doubt complex and needing
great wisdom from the many involved, particularly the doctors and nurses,
clergy, politicians etc. with life and death legal decisions to make. We must
pray with great compassion for all those who suffer and for those seeking to
address the complexities of this important issue.
I
wanted to simply address the common mantra, "I don't want to be burden to
anyone" to those of us who are believers.
I would like to ask, “when did being a burden” become something to be
avoided. Babies arrive burdensome. In fact it takes a Transit van or garage to
store baby burden equipment. Mothers bodies are not their own, fathers learn
the happy art of nappy changing, and sound sleep becomes a distant memory as
Zombie-like adults are consumed with their precious little burdens.
Interesting
to reflect that God became a burden, a baby in need as any other human child.
Even in his hour of greatest need at Calvary where we read of his betrayal and
abandonment from his Father and his disciples we glimpse burden carriers. His
mother, with a few of his closest, cried, cared and took his bruised and
bloodied body. They then washed, wrapped and laid it carefully to rest in the
tomb. Jesus became a burden as well as a burden carrier. It was Jesus who encouraged
his disciples to take up their cross daily and it is Paul who writes, “carry one
another's burdens and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).
I
wonder in our modern world that places happiness as almost a human right and
the ultimate goal of human existence, if suffering, sickness and even death
need to be legally sanitized and brushed under an easily available and
presentable NHS bed sheet! We all desire a good death, as free from pain as
possible, and as far removed from public view, embarrassment and avoiding all
those costly care and drugs (particularly if we are beneficiaries of the
relatives will). But is it biblical and should we not embrace the burdens God gives
each one of us with faith?
Let
me finish by talking of a dear friend of mine. A church leader married for over
50 years who has for the past 4 years held his beloveds hand as she has battled
with Alzheimer’s. He has never once in my hearing complained and watching his
pure delight in caring for his wife in her confusion and distress I am reminded
of the 16th century Bishop who said "Marriage has less beauty but more
safety, it is full of sorrows and full of joys. It lies under more burdens but
is supported by all the strengths of love and those burdens are
delightful!"
