Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

August 3, 2010

Filed under: — Constance at 7:23 pm on Tuesday, August 3, 2010


Most of us have sung “This Train is Bound for Glory, This Train” at some camp or another, and meeting the hospice nurse was standing on the platform and choosing that train over all the others. The most compelling thing from Hospice is the philosophy of “quality of life”. One has to shift the hope away from other outcomes and also force the brain into “living in the now”. Measured that way, I have a good quality of life at Sanctuary. My pneumonia was conquered by the antibiotics and my lungs are nearly clear now. I use the oxygen each day because of the shortness of breath, but I also go for short walks outdoors with Charles or John-paul.


I’ve just had my weekly meeting with the hospice nurse, and things are looking good. She gave me more information about the very last days – I think one is eased toward “the end” through these conversations. For example, I have a small rattle in the lower lobe of my right lung. (The pneumonia was in the left lung). I will use a device that encourages coughing out the unwanted material, but if the pneumonia comes back in the right lung, I will make a decision, and that is whether or not to ask for antibiotics again. What I hope is that the lung does not give in to any illness at any time. Over all, today has been a good day.


The former senior pastor at Plymouth Congregational said in a sermon, “If anything has life, then it will die.” I can’t remember what point he was making, but this statement has been helpful to me. I look out over Sanctuary and its incredible growth and teeming life, and I think, “All of this is going to die, and so shall we – everything dies”. What happens then is everyone’s own conjecture and as you can see from the comments, there are many beautiful scenarios. No one knows, though a good number of people would say they can feel spirits moving across the universe. For me it is time to “live by faith” as suggested many times and in many ways in the Bible. This is actually a difficult thing, to have absolute, unquestioning faith in God, but when one makes that great leap, peace will follow and the future becomes possible.

5 Comments

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Comment by Irene Beethe

August 3, 2010 @ 9:03 pm

Dear Connie, Your last statement is so true…even for those of us who aren’t on as difficult a path as you. Absolute, unquestioning faith in God…..provides us with peace and a future held in His hands! I’m thankful that you can enjoy short walks and be a part of the life that is abundant at Sanctuary. Your hospice nurse sounds like a perfect fit for you on this journey…another blessing from the Lord.
I am reminded of several phrases from “O Morning Star..”
“For Christ goes with us all the way–Today, tomorrow, ev’ry day! His love is never ending!” (I remember sitting and singing next to you at St. Lorenz in Frankenmuth many years ago as Charles played a hymn festival.) That phrase continues to be a source of peace for me. May the peace of the Lord continue to surround you “today, tomorrow, ev’ry day.”
Love, Irene

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Comment by Mindy Werling

August 4, 2010 @ 5:11 pm

Dear Connie,

I am so glad that you are past the pneumonia and feeling well enough to take some short walks. I can envision Alphie bounding ahead of you with excitement!

As you wrote, the Scriptures are our guide to understanding death and the eternal life that awaits us. Our Jesus, who wept in the Garden of Gethsemane, and who then faced and conquered death on the cross, understands our fears because He was there. It is by faith in Him that we live, and also by faith in Him that we die.

We can also take some comfort in the words and thoughts of our fellow human beings who have contemplated death through the centuries. Here are some quotes that I found uplifting:

We must die! These words are hard, but they are followed by a great happiness: it is in order to be with God that we die…
Francis de Sales

In reality, there is no death because you are not the body. Let the body be there or not be there, your existence is always there; it is eternal…
-Nisargadatta

Death is going from one room to another, ultimately to the most beautiful room…
-Mendel of Kotzk

The body is not a home but an inn and that only briefly…
Seneca

Forego not the sublimely spiritual for the lowly physical…
Shem Tob Falaquera

Death, when we consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence. I have formed during the last few years such close relations with this best and truest friend of mankind, that this image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling! And I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness…
Wolfgang A. Mozart

Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room, I shall be able to see.
Hellen Keller

It is worth dying to find out what life is…
T. S. Eliot

When you die you lose your body. That is all there is to it. Nothing else is lost…
-P. M. H. Atwater

I think of death as some delightful journey that I shall take when all my tasks are done…
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Life is a great surprise, I do not see why death should not be a greater one…
-Wadimir Nabokov

Death is simply a shedding of the physical body, like the butterfly coming out of the cocoon. It is a transition into a higher state of consciousness, where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, to be able to grow, and the only thing you lose is something you don’t need any more .. your physical body. It’s like putting away your winter coat when spring comes…
-Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Asking why you have to die is like asking why you have to grow up physically as well as spiritually. It is all part of the human experience and upon death you go into a freer living…
-Peace Pilgrim

Death is no death if it raises us in a moment from darkness to light, from weakness to strength, from sinfulness into holiness…
Charles Kingsley

For death begins with life’s first breath And life begins at touch of death
John Oxenham

At the last, when we die, we have the dear angels for our escort on the way. They who can grasp the whole world in their hands can surely also guard our souls, that they make that last journey safely.
Martin Luther

Hoping you had another good day today!

Love you,
Mindy

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Comment by Mark and Leann McClain

August 5, 2010 @ 9:36 am

We pray for God’s Spirit of Comfort for you as you face the days ahead. Your writings have been such an inspiration to us. The peace of the Lord be with you and Dr. Ore!

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Comment by dick gale

August 10, 2010 @ 4:32 pm

Dear Connie and all:

Over the past nearly two weeks you have had strong, positive thoughts sent your way from AZ (Green Valley), NM (Las Cruces & Santa Fe), and AZ (Grand
Canyon and Sedona).

Both Susan (“unlabeled” Unitarian/Universalist) and I (Christian Scientist) felt the strong spiritual sense that comes from being so close to these grand natural environments.

We are both spiritual and physical beings. And, as you have so eloquently demonstrated to so many of us over these last difficult years for you, the spiritual can be very strong when physically challenged. You have been a very positive spiritual instructor in so many ways.

Take care, our Dear Friend. (and, our very warmest best to your family, and, of course, YOUR DOG).

dick and susan gale
——–
(Such a nice list of quotes from Mindy.)

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Comment by Jennette Morrison

August 27, 2010 @ 11:22 am

Dear Connie,
I don’t know that you know me (not that that matters) but I’ve been blessed to study improv and now organ accompanying with your husband.

Every so often I will read your blog and earlier this week was one of those times I did. I was so appreciative for today’s chapel message at CUNE when Prof. Royuk read an excerpt from your blog. Thank you so much for allowing him to do that. You have a way with words and it’s comforting to me (and I do not doubt, many others) to read of your thoughts and be blessed by your strong witness in our Savior!

Thanks be to God for his unconditional love and giving Christ as our ransom. May He continue to give you peace in this earthly trial..I pray you may find joy amidst the trouble and pain.
Joy in Jesus,
Jennette Morrison

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