Quality of Life

What a great “spring-SAM_0919like” day today. Good day to take care of some cleaning and run some errands. This afternoon Debbie’s friend Terrie came for a visit from Highlands Ranch. Terrie was a great support to Debbie as a co-worker and friend. Charlie Simineo joined us for dinner after the evening service tonight at Timberline. These two friends of ours were some of the support system of many during my hospitalization. It is always good to see progress and reflect on days gone by.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.”   John 10:10 (GNT)

As I listened to the recent committee hearing at the Colorado State Capitol on “physician assisted suicide” I began to think about the subjectivity of “quality of life.” A hospice nurse testifying for the bill asserted that “quality of life is more important than quantity of life.” I think I understand what she was saying, I just didn’t agree. Certainly not from the perspective of “quality of life” justifying ending ones life. It that were the case we would have all kinds of people who would feel they would qualify to end their life. After all, I believe we are all terminal.

The eleven hours of testimony on the bill covered all of the issues related to a person choosing to end their life when facing a terminal diagnosis. There were opinions, perspectives, philosophies, worldviews and legal issues presented that don’t readily come to mind on the topic. But the comment about “quality of life” or “no one should be able to die like that!” is really at the crux of the issue.

I think we all have gone through difficult journey’s with people when we see their “quality of life” diminish be virtue of age or illness or disability. That usually means they can’t live the life they once did or were accustom to living, they can’t do what they use to be able to do.

In doing some surface investigation, I found “quality of life indicators” for countries and those that define “quality of life” for individuals. Interestingly, the quality of life index for individuals did mention “spiritual” domain of life. To me that is foundational to our life. That is why the familiar words of Jesus in John 10:10 are so important. That is why the value of the soul is greater than all the riches of the world. If we don’t have a quality of life inside, we won’t have quality of life “outside.”

Quality of life can be experienced in all kinds of situations and in all kinds of lives, that I could not identify with. I think of dear friends in third-world countries. I think of the life experiences of grandparents. I think of severally handicapped individuals who are still functioning in life; making a contribution, loving and being loved.

Quality of life is not the same for everyone. But everyone can have the same source of strength in life that empowers them to live a “full and abundant” life. We can live in peace; we can live in contentment; we can live in hope; we can live knowing that we are loved, accepted and forgiven; we can live knowing that God is with us always!

When it comes to “quality of life” at the end of our natural life, there are some challenges. Family members of strong faith, have seen loved ones of strong faith, suffer greatly before their final breathe. One of my early teenage memories was my grandmother crying out in pain as she was carried to an ambulance as she suffered with cancer. I recall looking across the room an seeing my grandfather sitting quietly, with tears in his eyes.

When a loved one suffers we all suffer. And even in those “painful” experiences we can know God’s sufficiency. We can be open to what we need to learn about life and eternity. It reminds us that we don’t set our hope and our eyes on this earth and this life.

A book could be written on these issues. I am reminded of the words of Solomon at the end of Ecclesiastes, So remember your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal days and years come when you will say, “I don’t enjoy life.”… there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for….” (Ecc. 12:1,13)

None of us know where the journey of life will take us and how it will end, but we can have this assurance….

“….God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Psalm 48:14)

As I was at our Saturday evening church service, the words of this song caught my attention…

…I can see a light that is coming
For the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me