The Climbing Way
My friend’s husband died in the very early hours of this morning, while it was still dark. He had prostate cancer that spread to his bones and to his liver. He was a good man, lived a good life, as we say, loving his family, serving his community, sharing the Good News as a deacon, and ministering to those in prison. A man of great faith, he had lived fully and well and was ready for what comes next. As often happens, his body seemed less ready than his soul, as bodily death did not come suddenly but, rather, by suffering, slowly breaking down, groaning in the pains that is the dying process. But peace was in his heart and his loved ones by his side. When I heard of his passing, these words of It Came upon a Midnight Clear came to my mind:
“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
Look, now, for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing!
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing.”
Related articles
- Recognizing the Holy (smithnrs96.wordpress.com)
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (ibiblio.org)
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Christina Chase View All
Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.
Christina Chase 
I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your friend’s husband, especially since it came with such pain. Death always reminds us of our own mortality. My prayers are with you at this time of loss. ~ Dennis
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I appreciate your prayers and sympathy, truly, I thank you. Facing my own mortality is something I had to do years ago, and reminders are with me daily… But that story will have to be for another post… Again, thank you for your kindness. I know my friend will need many prayers and much support.
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