DEFINING SPIRITUALITY

Joseph, ninety-seven years old, was admitted to hospice several days ago.  I did a follow up phone call “visit” to educate the family about Social Work support.  I spoke with Joseph’s daughter, “Connie”.  Joseph suffers from lung cancer which has recently metastasized.  Joseph recently tried a new chemotherapy treatment, but the side affects were tremendous.  Joseph and his family chose hospice for comfort at home. 

When I asked Connie about her father’s spirituality, she shared his strong beliefs against any religion secondary to all the “man-made rules”.   He was raised Catholic and strongly informed his daughter that “God does not care if one eats meat on a Friday or misses Mass on a Sunday.  In the end, it is about how you live your life”. 

Connie, being a very strong Catholic, believes in the rules of the church.  She strongly felt that her father will not make it to heaven unless he accepts faith in his life.  She tried several times, all unsuccessful, to convince her father to believe what she believes.  She felt that once he dies from his cancer, she will never see him again.  

I felt the instinct to share my story about my out-of-body experience nine years ago.  It was an amazing, but very humbling experience, which brought up many questions such as, “What do I do with his experience?  What is it all about?”  I have come to strongly believe that I had that amazing experience to share with a patient or family member one person at a time.  Talking with Connie today so strongly supports that belief to me. 

I have faith that all of us believe what is right for us to believe; no matter what it is.  It gives one support and comfort as it helps us understand a bit as well as making some sense to us.  No one is able to; or should even try to, convince anyone else to believe what you believe as it such a powerful, individual belief.  Stay strong both of you; Joseph and Connie.  What will be; will likely and truly be.

DEFINING SPIRITUALITY 

 

Upon meeting hospice patients and families,

I share a lot of information about our program.

Along with asking numerous questions;

my favorite thing to ask is “What are your spirituality beliefs?”

 

Yes, religion is spiritual, but it is deeply so much more.

Atheism, creation and nature are strongly spiritual in kind.

Your spirituality is about your unanswered questions;

with hopes of what it may be; if anything at all.

 

He was raised a very strong Catholic

but resisted all the “man-made rules.”

“He’s kind of tough.

                    He’s a rebel with his faith.”

 

She’s a strong Catholic who lives by her devotion.

She’s tried to talk with her father about afterlife;

but he will have nothing to say about it at all.

She’s afraid that once he dies, she will never see him again.

 

I am often guided from above while doing hospice work.

I trust my inner voice; I trust my instinct;

so, from that intuition, I told her about my experience

                    of crossing over to the other side.

 

Bringing tears, I was so amazed by what she then told me,

“You have given me comfort.

I now know, when it is my time to go,

I will forever and always be

               with my father for eternity.”

 

“It is a beautiful story; an amazing story.

You have made a tremendous difference in my life.

‘Thank you so much for telling me.

                    I will never forget you!”