I run a senior health forum in the village of Del Mar. I have always loved groups as I believe that there is a power that comes when a group of individuals come together and share life and open their hearts to each other. This definitely happened last week when we welcomed Reverend Nancy Conklin to our group. Nancy is a Unity minister and works as a hospice chaplain for San Diego Hospice. She and I became friends several years ago when she would bring a lady from her parish to my senior group at Scripps. She was part of our group for 3 years. During this time she became a hospice chaplain and has now been working for San Diego Hospice for 3 years. She is no average person. She has light that comes out of her that is so bright and so loving that anyone around her feels joy, peace and positivity. She brought her usual energy to our group and literally lit us up.
Mind you, we were talking about hospice and the end of life. While this can be a heavy topic, our session was anything but heavy. She took all the fear out of dying. She spoke of the peace that comes with the freedom associated with the end of suffering. She was not "pollyanna"; she was real and we all felt it. She spoke of being with hundreds of dying patients at the moment of their passing and this was universal; peace comes. There may be struggle, discomfort and pain during the dying process but it always gives way to peace. She is human; she doesn't know where we go after we die but she has a faith that is stronger than anything or anyone I have ever met.
I walked away changed. I think the seniors did too. When the #1 fear in life melts away into nothingness, we can be free to truly live and to live freer and less afraid. We got a gift. The world needs to hear that gift. It can change lives. Thank you Nancy.
Mind you, we were talking about hospice and the end of life. While this can be a heavy topic, our session was anything but heavy. She took all the fear out of dying. She spoke of the peace that comes with the freedom associated with the end of suffering. She was not "pollyanna"; she was real and we all felt it. She spoke of being with hundreds of dying patients at the moment of their passing and this was universal; peace comes. There may be struggle, discomfort and pain during the dying process but it always gives way to peace. She is human; she doesn't know where we go after we die but she has a faith that is stronger than anything or anyone I have ever met.
I walked away changed. I think the seniors did too. When the #1 fear in life melts away into nothingness, we can be free to truly live and to live freer and less afraid. We got a gift. The world needs to hear that gift. It can change lives. Thank you Nancy.
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