Assisted Suffering

Assisted Suffering

Brittany Maynard’s stage 4 glioblastoma was steadily overtaking her body, and no viable treatment could stop it. Salon magazine touted Brittany’s choice to kill herself before her cancer could as “brave,” claiming that all “religious arguments against physician-assisted suicide fall flat.”^a

A steady stream of magazine covers and news stories demonstrated that Brittany was indeed beautiful. She became the face of assisted suicide. But does assisted suicide demand a face? And if she were not so young and beautiful, would Brittany’s face have been chosen? Disagreeing with her decision to wrestle her life from God’s hands is not a popular stance. Dissent to her decision—for any reason—is seen as cold, uncharitable, and judgmental. Her story makes one thing very clear: it is no longer popular to trust God.

I am not in the situation Brittany faced: I cannot with any certainty estimate the amount of sand left in the hourglass of days God has ordained for me. Yet her story has made me long for the world to see a different face—the face of assisted suffering. Where are the magazine covers touting the bravery of those who have received news of their dying and chosen to live—daily placing themselves in God’s good hands and trusting in his mighty providence? Where is the applause for those who have embraced suffering and the loss of strength and beauty and bodily function with a peace that passes understanding?

Perhaps today you are a caregiver in need of grace. May God grant you all that you need to love well, for as long as God ordains. If you are sick, or struggling, or dying—or loving someone who is—please know that you are deeply respected, and loved. Your bravery is not unseen. Your reward is sure. Your sacrifice is beautiful. And you, and only you, will know the precious, blessed beauty of loving to the end. May you struggle well and dwell in the house of God forever.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:16

^a Joanna Rothkopf, “Brittany Maynard’s Brave Choice: Why Religious Arguments Against Physician-Assisted Suicide Fall Flat,” Salon, October 19, 2014, http://www.salon.com/2014/10/19/brittany_maynards_brave_choice_why_religious_arguments_against_physician_assisted_suicide_fall_flat/.