DYING WELL
By John Wyatt
IVP. 168 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 594 856
‘From lighting and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good Lord, deliver us.’ (The Litany; Book of Common Prayer 1662)
Present debates about assisted suicide, euthanasia and the right to die have made death a hot topic. But dying always has contemporary relevance. For everyone. Most of us would disagree with the Prayer Book. The idea of sudden death, being taken quickly and quietly, preferably in our sleep, seems very attractive. Whereas our forefathers wanted to have the opportunity to gather their friends and family round them and rehearse great gospel truths together.
John Wyatt’s latest book doesn’t address the ethical issues around death; for that you should read his accompanying volume Right to Die. Rather, is it an open conversation about how we should consider end-of-life care for ourselves and for those we love. It draws on the tradition of the Ars moriendi (Art of dying), documents of the Middle Ages written to help people consider how they might best honour Christ at the end of their lives.
Opportunities and challenges
After a very strong opening chapter on ‘Dying in the Modern World’, Wyatt briefly outlines what the Ars moriendi were; pamphlets that might have been in his words entitled ‘Dying for dummies’! He then outlines both the opportunities and the challenges that dying might present, as well as the need for honest communication with medical professionals and the person dying. These chapters, with the rest of the book, are full of practical help and personal stories. Wyatt’s professional experience and pastoral heart are tangible.
The last two chapters take us more to the Bible, where we are encouraged to learn from the example of Jesus’ death and rejoice in our sure and steadfast hope in Christ. The end of the book has very helpful practical appendices for those thinking through their own death, or caring for others, including advice about what to discuss, prayers to use, the legal framework for end-of-life discussions and even a sample statement that could be used to indicate someone’s preferences during end-of-life care.
Wyatt writes with clarity and warmth. Whilst being an easy read, this is a book of substance. I was moved to pray at the end of a number of chapters as I was confronted with a biblical view of death, both as an enemy and as not the end. After reading the last chapter on resurrection hope I even began to look forward to my own death. Though Christ’s return would be preferable!
There is a danger in the chapter on Jesus’ death as an example that some of the unique nature of his sin-bearing sacrifice is lost in an admirable effort to emphasise his role as our sympathetic high priest, and some of the language borders on damaging the unity of God the Trinity in eternity. Whilst these are important issues of doctrine, it is more a question of emphasis than orthodoxy. Practically I would have appreciated more on caring for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, but this is probably too much to ask of such a slim volume.
My mother is not looking forward to her death; she doesn’t even like to mention it, though she has known Christ from childhood. I cannot recommend this book more highly than to say that I am planning to send her a copy.
