Dying Healthy

THURS., FEB. 12, 1987, 7:16 AM
FARM, STUDY

Last evening you served some students in a unique way, helping them understand, in this extra curricular way, a more positive way of seeing death. In the midst of your oration you said that in an holistic perspective it was possible to die healthy. Of this I approve, and I shall elaborate on it this morning, o son, as another warm winter day dawns.

From My perspective there is way too much sadness associated with death. I realize that, as Jesus, I performed several miracles in bringing people back from death, and therefore it seems that this is an undesirable state. Speaking as the Spirit now, I tell you that death should be approached in the same way you go to a good night of sleep.

Now if you go to bed reluctantly, having to sleep even as you have much more to accomplish, the sleep comes on because you need it, but it may be fitful and not as healthy as it might be. How? Well, even when you have much to accomplish still, you can relax before bed, say, “Everything has to wait till tomorrow… after I have enjoyed my sleep and the renewal it brings” and accept the need for sleep without resentment. This is a healthier approach to sleep than considering it an always unwelcome intruder on what is important.

I, the Holy Spirit, encourage you, though not everyone (for reasons I shall not share with you here), to see sleep as an analog to death. And this means, of course, that you shall awake to the reality of a new day, refreshed and more ready for your continuing tasks than when you went to sleep. Just as the ideal way of going to sleep is to finish as much of the day’s work as you can, relax and ready yourself for sleep, say Goodnight to those you love, in person or in spirit, and then accept sleep gratefully… so the ideal death is to have done diligently all you could in life (and the central purpose in life is to grow in spirit), relax and accept that it is time to rest and “move on”, even if some things remain unaccomplished, say Goodbye to loved ones, in person or in spirit, and then accept the restful experience of death gratefully.
7:51 / 7:57
There are certain important guidelines for dying healthy. One is consciousness. Even in weakness one can muster consciousness and express appreciation for loved ones and for life itself, with words or with eyes and gestures. (Words are only one way to communicate.) Another is appreciation for the life that has been, focusing on its positive qualities and events, letting such thoughts overshadow ones of regret for what was not accomplished. (This appreciation, in itself, is an analog to grace and may bring spiritual growth, even in the last moments.)

Yet another is to have some of those of most importance to you with you as you make this transition. It is as important to have people telling you Goodbye as it is to have others welcoming you “back”. Dying alone is not ideal, but if no persons can be there in body you can use your God-given “imagination” (spirit, actually) to bring the spirits of important people to your side. It can be done… and this is healthy.