Death Becomes Us

Some may recall the 1992 film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn titled, Death Becomes Her. It was a crazy premise for a movie. My comments today have absolutely nothing to do with that film. But seemingly as crazy is what Canadians have chosen as a path forward on euthanasia. More on that coming up.

First, last Saturday I arrived at my 71st birthday. I’ve had a blessed life in so many ways. But I’ve also faced many challenges—and still do. Due to several work changes for my father, I attended nine different schools growing up. Hard to build friendships that way.

I was likely ADD before they ever talked about it. Thus, radio turned out to be a perfect match for my work. The “scenery” changes constantly. School was a challenge for me. One personality assessment offered this: “The classroom is not your friend.” Yeah.

My father died very unexpectedly in the spring of my junior year in high school. It troubled me greatly. Having already lost two grandfathers and now my own dad, my mind shifted to fear that I was next! At 16! This fear manifested in panic attacks for several years.

At the age of 53 I was told I needed open heart surgery—immediately. A quintuple bypass. By God’s grace, I survived and have been blessed to know each of my seven grandchildren. Sadly, one of those beautiful kids would die from a genetic disorder less than a year and a half into his life.

There’s more to my life story, of course. But despite many ups and downs, my faith in God has strengthened me and motivated much of my work life. Nowhere in my 71 years did I contemplate suicide. A few of my acquaintances chose that path. But no family or friends.

That is why, in part, I am stunned to see Canadians more recently expanding their euthanasia policies. The Colson Center has shared two commentaries earlier this year about the situation.

In 2015 the Supreme Court of Canada removed a ban on assisted suicide. Just a year later, the Canadian Parliament passed legislation allowing “MAID,” or Medical Assistance in Dying, for those who suffer from terminal illness and whose death was “reasonably foreseeable.” And as the Colson Center reported, “Five years later, the 'reasonably foreseeable' language was dropped, as was the requirement of terminal illness.” 

More changes followed. Today, “ending one’s life with ‘medical assistance’ simply requires a physician and a witness to agree that physical or mental suffering is sufficient cause.’” And in 2023 this will be expanded to include anyone with a mental illness—even PTSD or depression!

Almost 20,000 lives were legally taken by assisted suicide in the last two years. And according to the Colson Center, “Next year, euthanasia will likely be extended to so-called ‘mature’ minors.'” Imagine, teens being taught that death is an acceptable way out of mental anguish. A sad commentary.

The mindset has moved from a so-called “right to die” to a perceived “duty to die.” Patients often made a death decision to avoid being “a burden” on friends or family.As one professor noted, this has made “a life with disability…automatically less worth living and that, in some cases, death is preferable.”

Despite several ongoing diabetic complications, God has given me the gift of life—well beyond what would have been, with the help of doctors. I can only be thankful.

The reality of our worth in God’s eyes is revealed in a Bible passage the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (HCSB)

When the sting of death is seen as a blessing to others, it’s another example of humans having lost our moral moorings. When suicide becomes a preferable option, it appears death becomes us.

  

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://colsoncenter.libsyn.com/canadas-ever-expanding-euthanasia-law

https://www.breakpoint.org/canadas-euthanasia-laws-pandoras-box-is-open%E2%80%AF/