We all know that life is a terminal condition. We grieve deeply when someone dies; we also become sad to see when a person we even do not know is dying.
But I can assure that people who are actually dying, are not so sad as the people who see them dying.
I was a volunteer of a Danish humanitarian organization that worked among the elderly and ill people. I was a member of a team that help palliative care team at a nursing home in Copenhagen.
I used to help terminally ill people with practical things. In this was, I came closed to some patients.
Those people were holding their last breaths- some had cancer, some had cardiovascular disease. They were in the last stage of diseases.
It was a very challenging job for me to help those people who already know that they were dying.
I was beside a person in his dying moment. The person was not upset for himself.
He was sad watching his beloved people who were crying for him. In fact, he had hard time calling on family and friends to ease the anxiety of their passing. He was feeling relieved and happier to die.
I knew the man for couple of months. He had a one of the deadliest cancer. He was in immense pain that cant be described.
He tried to have the right to die. He asked doctors for help to die easily and quickly. But his plea was rejected. He was therefore considering to move from Denmark to Switzerland where it was easier to get death help.
It was known that his days were counted. He had 2 or 3 months to live. He could not do much in that short period.
I advised them to pray to the God he believed and perform more spiritual activities. The communication with Higher Power could help many people to relax.
But he was religious neutral. He was not sure Whom to pray. I asked him to pray to God according to his religion.
It was not only for relaxation. If there was a God, then heaven and hell exists. Instead going in debate if there is the God, why not pray!! It never hurt anyone.
He started praying. It apparently helped him. He was waiting for his death with peace in mind.
Then the day came. The doctor said, he would not live more. He looked very happy before he was dying. He seemed to be well prepared.
I also was in the room. He said, “ This is my happiest day. I am going to be released from the torture cell. Whatever is waiting for me can’t be more painful than my life here.”
I told him,“You are going to a better place. Don’t doubt about that. You have served punishment in this world. God loves you, He will not punish you any more.”
That was my last word. He died peacefully.
It reminds me the last word of the greatest philosopher Socrates, “The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our separate ways, I to die, and you to live. Which of these two is better only God knows.”
Originally published at medium.com