A 100th Birthday & MAID

 

This morning a fellow toiler at the gym told me he'd attended the birthday party for a former "senior senior" member of the Y. Cam was in his 90s and still showing up to swim and take part in classes when COVID closed the facility down and he never came back. Yesterday he celebrated his 100th birthday and an appreciative crowd of roughly 200 showed up to applaud this milestone. He still walks daily and he gave a brief speech for the occasion.

Isn't this what we hope for with longevity? We don't just hope to live reasonably long, we want to live well. Yes, we adjust to the limitations of old age but keeping moving and retaining our mental faculties are part of the picture.  Sadly, it doesn't always work out this way. In the past few months two people, one we knew and one we didn't (mother of a neighbour) came to the end of life by Medical Assistance in Dying. As we will know, MAID is a controversial subject and there are certainly a number of reasons why our society needs to cautious about this form of death, particularly for the vulnerable, the poor, and the lonely. Yet there are people who no longer have what they consider quality of life or medical options to spare them from a lingering death. 

In both situations the persons were in their early 80s and explored treatment for cancer. In one surgery and chemo were not effective so he came home to die and was surrounded by loved ones to the end. In the other the woman was willing to undergo treatment but was told that the cancer would not respond and her pain became excruciating. She too was supported by family and she left this life peacefully. 

As a person of resurrection faith in Christ I would hope that everyone would enjoy abundant life to the end with the prospect of a life to come. I also understand why people want to spare themselves and those who care from them the pain of a slow death. I've noted before that even when I began ministry in 1980 living to be eighty years or older was a "ripe old age." I'm grateful that a lot of medical advances have been made in those few decades. 

I won't judge those who choose to avail themselves of MAID and while I can't speak for God I don't see that He/She/They would either. For the woman it was not the RC chaplain but a handful of devout friends who wanted her to reconsider because of the prospect of eternal torment. 

Let's keep working at understanding MAID and making sure that the vulnerable are not pressured nor feel that there are no other options. We can also show mercy and compassion for those who choose to die this way. As faith communities we can respect our elders, as we're commanded in scripture. 

And hurray for the Cams of this world who are blessed with health and a broad circle of loving friends and family. I hear that former President Carter, a Christian who is ready to meet his Maker, want to live to his 100th birthday in October so he can vote for Kamala Harris in November!