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In recent years it seems as if children are being acknowledged for their own sense of personhood. There was a time that children were considered to be adults in miniature in most ways except in the area of grief. For a long time, children’s grief was not acknowledged probably because many adults felt it didn’t exist. It is more likely however that a grieving child was ignored because adults didn’t know how to deal with the grief of a child. [ 470 more words ] http://sundaymorningmusings.blog//12/16/children-and-grief/

I knew a man who said that the first thing he would read in the morning was the obituaries. If he didn’t find his name he said he just went about his day. I am assuming he was joking, but I have to admit that many people seem to read the obits. Yet in a day and age when news travels fast, it seems to me that information about death seems to be slow than before. [ 490 more words ] http://sundaymorningmusings.blog//acknowledging-the-decea/

"Whenever I sat in on his palliative appointments, I heard Dad open up about his feelings in a way he rarely did. He was also offered advice about managing his ...symptoms, but there was other practical advice too, covering everything from ambulance plans to his diet. And Dad always seemed happier after these visits. It was as if they helped restore his sense of self, anchoring him to his new reality, rather than denying it." Monica Dux See more

Gerald May uses the expression of naked hope meaning that hope is not tied to any particular end. This understanding of hope is often the opposite of that to which most of us seem to prescribe. For the most part many of us like the idea of hoping in something, or hoping for a specific outcome. Hope in this instance is little more than wishful thinking or wanting. [ 488 more words ] http://sundaymorningmusings.blog//11/25/hope-is-letting-go/

While looking through some magazines the other day I ran across a couple of books that I had been thinking about purchasing. The first was the The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. It is a book about going through one’s own stuff before death and getting rid of what you don’t need or want any more. The idea behind such a cleansing is to make life easier on the loved ones left behind who usually have to sort through these things. [ 443 more words ] http://sundaymorningmusings.blog/2018/11/18/ready-for-death/

I have resumed writing my Spirit Musings and am directly attaching to this account. Please visit my blog

Have recently been able to get Dying to Live on order through Amazon.ca. Check it out. Please.

There still are copies of Dying to Life available. If you would like a copy please message me. I participated in a planned giving talk last night and the presenter who didn't know me, began and ended her talk with cartoons mentioning that death will come to all of us - how prepared are we - granted her main emphasis was the importance of Wills and Powers of Attorney. These are important but so is making sure we are prepared in all ways.

Books continue to sell well. If you don't have a copy contact Derek at [email protected]. some comments from readers including those of a retired U of T prof : I just finished your book and want you to know that I think it is fabulous and I highly recommend it! What a beautiful exploration of spirituality and the philosophies surrounding life and death. ...Thank you for putting something so important into the world. I want to pass on to you some of my feelings and reac...tions after reading your Novella. The bottom line is that I feel more comfortable discussing end-of-life with a friend of mine and accepting his feelings of anger, despair, denial and fatalism. You’ve described these feelings so well in your book both their origin and ways of coping or responding to them. Most importantly, just being accepting and giving the person room to breathe. I think this fact alone makes this book almost mandatory reading for any health care or social service professional faced with dying patients or clients. The Designated Lay Ministers program in Saskatoon also used this book for their course this past year. Please note it not just for professionals.

Am presenting a talk about Dying to Live to Sunshine Club at All Saints Anglican on April 12. Copies for sale - only $10. - a novella on living and dying and spirituality.

Great news! my novella has been chosen as part of the reading list for the Designated Lay Ministers program offered out of St, Andrews College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Company moving forward - in negotiations with new editor.