DEATH AND DYING. . .AGING--ONE'S LAST GIFT

CRACKER BARREL JOURNAL | J. Grant Swank, Jr.

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DEATH AND DYING. . .AGING--ONE'S LAST GIFT

J. Grant Swank, Jr., POB l984, Windham ME 04062

Pastor, New Hope Church, Windham ME

As a believer, I have always been uncomfortable with the American way of death. It strikes me as being particularly pagan. There is too much emphasis on material things at this moment given to the soul.

Why the costly caskets? Funeral displays? Elaborate fringes? Gawking at the deceased? "My, doesn't he look nice?" "They did a good job on her, didn't they?"

Please. Enough.

There has to be another way, I used to ponder. Yet for years, I did not think it appropriate to voice my doubts. After all, when such is a crusted institution of culture, who dares object?

There would be gasps from family and friends, I whispered to myself when tempted to dare an alternative route.

So I let the matter slide.

However, the other day when having breakfast out with friends, the subject of death and burial customs came up. One of those present said, "When I die, I am going to donate my body to science."

There, that's it! The woman said something that made sense.

No more dreading the last moment, knowing that my family is going to incur mega-expenses in an attempt to show their respects to my life. This friend had just voiced wisdom.

"Body for science."

The four of us seated at the restaurant table are all believers. Therefore, it was as if chiming church bells we chorused forth with a well-known biblical passage: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (I Corinthians 6:l9-20 NIV).

Honor the Creator with my body.

What better way to honor God who has gifted me with an earthly body than to give my temple to help others through scientific research?

That would then be my last gift upon leaving this existence.

Therefore, I phoned the hospital to find particulars. I was referred to Neal A. Cross, Director, Anatomical Donor Program, University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.

Within hours, I had my brochures providing the necessary detail. It was all quite easily understood.

Knowing that I was going to fill out the form, then mail it, I proceeded to my computer. It was as a prayer given to God that I asked Him to guide me in formulating the praise worship which will be conducted at my death. God has been so good to me in this life. Therefore, I want Him to receive all the honor at my death.

I do not want anyone monitoring about this and that concerning my rather monotonous biography. Nor do I want any fine phrases about character or accomplishments or eccentricities.

I want the praise service to be just that: praise to God for life in this existence and the next. Therefore, I chose the hymns, Scripture readings and special music as well as those who would offer prayers.

I informed my family of where the order of worship was filed.

It was a good feeling knowing that I had seen through the moment of soul release with dignity: offering the Lord's humble earthly temple to research with the hope of somehow assisting others.

Well done, I assured myself. So there would be no shopping around for a fancy casket, or settling for an inexpensive one. There would be no choosing the suit to wear, debating whether to have the casket open or shut, calling hours for people to stand around a room to talk and cry.

No.

Instead, with my last breath, I would offer up what had been given to me: my body. I would lift it as a sacrifice of thanksgiving back to God.

From start to finish, I would then have left my body with the One who had fashioned it.

Further, the final gift would have been presented without show, powdering of my nose, bills sent later to my family nor any of the other trappings we have draped around the dead.

Oh God, I prayed, please oversee my last gift as you have overseen this dedicated body through the years allotted me. And may your name receive all the praise.

Amen.