Living life to the full

I have recently been exposed to the situation whereby a young lady, beset by cancer, will perhaps not make it into her teens. Contrast this with the situation where a couple who were essentially well but have chosen to leave this world having, "chosen to peacefully end their lives!"
    
Sorry, but I understand from a news item on the radio that the couple did this because they wanted to see a change in the law relating to assisted suicide. Well, of course even if there is, they most certainly won't be seeing it will they? Seems that the couple didn't want to reach a stage in their lives where they would have their quality of life 'diminished'.
     
Of course those who support euthansia point to the fact that many people have this concern and want an alternative to suffering unnecessarily whilst those against it make their stand voicing the opposite opinion. But what is the reality?
    
Being involved in palliative care in the dying and seeing what can be done with those who have the 'inconvenience' of growing old I don't see too much merit in this, "Well-founded fear," (to quote a supporter of euthanasia). Still let's change the objective and look a little closer and see if we can spot anything interesting.
     
A while back a young man was hailed as a hero because, having been paralysed in a rugger accident, he took himself off to Switzerland and killed himself. He couldn't cope with the loss of his 'standard of living' and so took the 'brave way out'. Another hero to stand alongside our latest couple of brave people.
    
Now contrast this with Matt Hampson, a young man who had achieved his dream of wearing an England Rugger shirt for real (under -21) only to find himself injured on the pitch, leaving him with the same injuries and paralysed from the neck down. Did this young man reflect upon the loss of his 'quality of life' and weel his way to Switzerland. Did he decide that he wanted to leave before the going got too tough. Not on your life!
     
This young man has pulled his life back together and now coaches and has chosen to get busy by getting on and living. I have met young men who have lost eyesight, limbs and been horribly injured in the service of their country and to be honest their guts and drive make me look like a big girl.
     
Life is life as long as we have it and people have within them the ability (regardless of faith affiliations - some or none) to get it on and bring life in all its fulness. Look at Phil Packer, a man who having been told he'd never walk again managed to complete the London marathon course in thirteen days. Not a world record but yet another testimony to life being lived out in all its fulness and these two men are not alone.
     
All this tosh about choice and quality of life - I was father to a boy who brought much into the lives of others even though he had cerebral palsy and a myriad number of other problems besides. He managed to smile for much of the time and obviously still found some quality of life - O.K., he didn't ever bring in any money, never got any examination certificates and died before he reached ten, but he managed to give life a dignity because of what he  brought out in others.
    
The good news is that I was pro-life before he was born and what I saw in him (and others) only convinced me that this was a right position to take.


Psalm 139 - "all the days numbered for me were written . .  ." convinced me that we take our number at birth and wait to be served. Those who seek to queue-jump, like those who do the same with queues for clubs, will have to discuss their actions with the man at the door. I hope they find Him more accommodating that the big blokes we have outside the clubs here!