About once a week hospice patients ask why they are still alive. They are confined to their bed, completely dependent on others to even go to the bathroom. We meditate on Paul’s words, “my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” As a staff we tell them that they are teaching us how to die. We take home their advice to not take life and family for granted and to travel before health takes away the opportunity sooner than expected. As a staff we “benefit” from their life every day.
What do you long for? Take 20 seconds to consider what the benefit is in this moment of waiting.
—Adam Mescher is a graduate of Marquette University High School and Marquette University and currently works as a hospice chaplain.