Ben Sasse, former US Senator and former President of the University of Florida, announced last December that he'd been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
In a wide-ranging discussion with Ross Douthat, Mr. Sasse discusses his current state of health (parlous), and how he's preparing for his approaching death. I found it a very moving discussion, particularly his courage and openness in speaking out about the end of his life and how he's trying to fill every remaining minute of it with important things.
The New York Times published an opinion column about this interview titled "How Ben Sasse Is Living Now That He Is Dying". At present, it's not behind a paywall. If you prefer to read rather than watch or listen, I highly recommend clicking over there to read it. It's long, but well worth your time. If you'd rather not read it, here's his hour-long-plus interview with Mr. Douthat.
I can only admire Mr. Sasse's faith, and his willingness to be so open about a subject often regarded as taboo among many people today. I hope and pray that his example will inspire many to think about their own futures, and how "in the midst of life we are in death", to quote the ancient funeral ceremony.
May God be merciful to Mr. Sasse, and welcome him home to eternity when the time comes.
Peter
11 comments:
The only path to safety is through Jesus - nothing else works. Getting his sins forgiven and salvation in place is the most important thing he could spend his time doing as eternity is forever. Nothing else matters more than this.
Sasse made those arrangements a long time ago.
Saw it first hand, would rather not see it again.
Well done to him, and amen...
Our society does not handle death, or the subject of death, very well. Which is surprising considering death is one of the few universal experiences.
A friend of mine went through a rough period over the last half dozen years, starting with losing his father in law followed by his mother in law. Sifting the estate they left and administering it brought a lot of angst to both him and his wife. He recommends a couple of books that I keep meaning to get a hold off.
I'm Dead, Now What?
https://www.amazon.com/Im-Dead-Now-What-Organizer/dp/1441317996/
and
Peace of Mind Planner
https://www.amazon.com/Peace-Mind-Planner-Information-Belongings/dp/1441317295/
What does that mean?
Dan,
Although not religious myself now, I grew up in the Brethren church and it seems to me that if you have something to look forward to it's easier to face death. If it is just the end of everything then you have the incentive to drag on as long as possible and not deal with the consequences. Our modern society, in moving away from the church, has created the problem and replaced it with nothing. I do worry a bit about my own future. 🤔
My dad turns 90 in two weeks and my mother 87 later this year. They are both in "good" health, for their ages but I am seeing deterioration. They talk openly with us about death and dying, as well as plans for the estate, etc. They don't seem overly concerned about it as they are confident in where they are going. My biggest concerns are related to who goes first, but after 62 years together I suspect that whoever is still alive is going to struggle with some severe loneliness without the the other.
Thank you, Peter. Plenty there for a believer to look at, ponder his own life, and think about.
--Tennessee Budd
Great comment, older now, I wonder how I, and or my wife, will handle "II" if I am first.
I think that, about if she goes first. And I would rather it be me. That may be selfish on my part, but she has no interest in discussing our futures.
Mom lived 16 years after dad died, and was very well until about 3 months before her death, she was 92. Not a bad life for an eastern Kentucky farm girl.
Bear in Indy
My father is 91, my mother 90. So for them the end is near. Most people distract themselves from death by focusing on the mintutiae surrounding it. The will, disposition of belongings, funerary arrangements. But not on death itself. Having spent half a century taking care of patients I have seen a lot of death. Some tragic, most normal and to be expected. Even for the very old the thought of dying is often foreign and feared. I suspect for most it's not the actual dying, it's the not knowing what's next. Humans don't generally handle surprises well.
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