Living in the present moment

Tony Winner Idina Menzel sings "No Day But Today" from the Broadway musical Rent. Based on Puccini's opera La Boheme, Rent is the story of a group of struggling young artists and musicians living on New York City's Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS in 1989.

Christmas compassion

Joseph's House is a hospice for homeless people in Washington D.C.  NPR came to visit Joseph's House recently to see what it's like during Christmas time. Listen to the story.

Blessing for the longest night

United Methodist minister, artist and writer, Jan Richardson, was widowed this month and shared the following poem on her facebook page:

"I know lots of folks are having Longest Night or Blue Christmas services in the next few days. I am grateful for these and other spaces that acknowledge the shadows that are present for so many in this season. So thought I would share my 'Blessing for the Longest Night,' which has quite a different ring for me this year. Whatever your path is looking like in this season, may peace find you."

Blessing for the Longest Night
All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

© Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com

High school seniors take a class in hospice and learn lessons for life

From Mindful Magazine: "High school seniors at The Harley School in Rochester, New York, have the option of taking a class called “Hospice.” Most who sign up for it don’t know what they’re in for. And none of them forget the experience when it’s over." Watch the trailer (above) for David Marshall's documentary film about the hospice class.

Hospice volunteering is a privilege

Lynn Catley shares what hospice means to her.

Hospice volunteer Annette VanDeKreeke wrote in a letter to the editor: "It’s the same response every time – whenever someone finds out I’m a hospice volunteer, the first thing they say is, 'I could never do that; it would be too depressing.'

I usually smile and answer them with, 'You’d be surprised how much the opposite is true.' People who are involved in hospice know that every life comes with an expiration date – they witness it daily. It’s always sad when a soul passes from this world, and it sounds cliché but for some it is truly a blessing – an end to pain, loneliness, fear and worry.

I view hospice volunteering as an honor and a privilege. These clients and their families are going through possibly the toughest time in their lives and as a volunteer, you can help. Most often, I sit next to the bed and read to the client, or we listen to music together. Other times it’s as simple as gently holding their hand while they drift off to sleep, knowing they’re not alone." Read more...

"Boomers" take on a new cause

As the baby boomers age, they are transforming society's view of death just the way they transformed society's view of birth, sex, and so many other things.... Read more about the trend by clicking here.

November is national hospice and palliative care month

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is offering some resources to help raise awareness of hospice during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Click here to check out their resources.