Don's Blog
Hi All,
Today is one of those sad days of ministry. As I write I am sitting beside the bed of Michael Daly. Some may remember him as the elderly American gentleman who came to church with a walking stick. He didn’t say much, but somehow he saw us as family and Geoff Blyth, Jan Carrick and myself visited him.
Michel is Dying. He was living in an independent unit at our Uniting Church Homes, Chrystal Halliday in Karrinyup. I managed to find this unit for him when he had to move from a single men’s boarding house in Beaufort Street. Michael’s health gradually deteriorated and now he is in Charlie Gardiner Hospital and is slowly dying.
Michael is an intensely private person and we respected this. He has no family that we know of and I am his main contact person at the moment. It is for me one of the saddest times, because there is no family to cry for him or mourn his death. In the peaceful moments with him. I wrote a poem.
I am waiting now…
Waiting for Michael to die.
His old, tied body riddled with cancer.
A private person,
No family present,
No family he told me!
No family to cry at his death,
No family to mourn his loss.
I am waiting now…
Death is not far away
Eyes open and He knows I am here.
A man of faith,
A man so private,
I know very little,
I know he is dying.
I am waiting now…
Breath weaker,
Body beyond repair,
Death, the only release.
I am waiting now…
I will cry at his death,
We will cry at his death,
I will mourn his loss,
We will mourn his loss,
We will be his family.
I am waiting now…
Yesterday as I sat with him, realizing that he could no longer talk, I decided to download some hymns onto my iPhone and play them for him. After playing some of the old favourites like ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘What a friend and Blessed Assurance, he went peacefully to sleep for the night.
This morning as I sat with him again I played some more hymns. At one stage I had a very strong urge to play Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd”. About half way through the hymn Michael offered a last breath and died. It was for me an incredibly special moment, one I will never forget as it will remain a special memory of my ministry.
After offering a prayer with the nursing staff, they gently washed him and with the greatest of dignity, laid out his body. A very moving moment.
After the energy of the stations this is quite different and as I write I now I find myself very drained.
'The Stations' was of course a huge highlight. We had just under 2000 people see the exhibition and of course many great conversations. It is always a special time for us as we make quite a significant connection with a whole range of people, including those who walk by our church. As you can gather, the journey from life, to death, to life is an amazing one.
Last weekend was a mammoth occasion for me, starting with the Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae Service, through to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I loved the services we were able to offer and I am very grateful to John Beaverstock, the Wesley Choir and Josie Fountain for their contribution on Good Friday evening. That was a real highlight.
This Sunday I am taking a break and one of my friends John Barendrecht will be preaching at the Sunday service. We, John, myself and another Minister friend meet each Tuesday in a local café to talk through the readings and our approach to it for our Sunday Service. I am sure John will offer a thoughtful reflection.
Thanks for reading.
From your minister,
Don
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