The Rites of Death

So Susie is in her very last days. Yesterday, at the request of Susie's niece Nancy, we said the last rites from the Book of Common Prayer.

We gathered around the bed where Susie is lying, a hospital bed provided by hospice. It was me, Nancy, her husband Larry, her daughter Beverly and Beverly's husband Josh. We said the litany where we repeated over and over 'into your hands O Lord, we commend your servant Susie.' At Nancy's suggestion we read Susie's favorite psalm, 139, which begins with the words 'O God you have searched me out and known me.'

In my many visits with Susie over the last few weeks we have been anchored in the Rites of the church. At first, Susie was surprised by how much she liked having communion brought to her. As her decline became more pronounced she preferred to just have the healing prayers. And as I wrote a few weeks ago, she was very clear that she wanted the anointing with oil. The feel and the fragrance was maybe a tactile reminder to her of God's love and our love.

A week ago Sunday I visited and she was so weak, she did almost none of the responses in the healing service and only about half of the Lord's prayer. This past Sunday, the only response she could manage was the 'Amen' at the end of the service.

And yesterday afternoon there was the Last Rites of the church. I told Larry yesterday and I told Susie today as I was giving her what will probably be a last kiss, that she is in my pantheon of great Christians. I'm not sure that pantheon was the right word. She's not a god, there is only one God. But she, in many ways, reflected to me what God's life and love is like.

Susie lived a life that was sweet, brave, faithful and true. Well done, good and faithful servant. We will miss you.