Life, Death, and Meaning: searching for words Amanda Cooke

Medicine is my lawful wife and literature my mistress; when I get tired of one, I spend the night with the other. Anton Chekhov While medicine creates material for writing, perhaps even more important is that it also creates a psychological and emotional need to write. Daniel Mason

Medical students keep learning to concentrate, to get to the very heart of this or that matter. They keep struggling to take life itself, in its excesses, its madness. And they keep being stopped in their tracks by a moment of tragedy or great bad luck. No wonder, as some of them tell me, their minds ache to give sharp, pointed expression to what they have seen and heard and felt.1 - Robert Coles

Why explore faith based issues in the context of medicine? “We do not negate the benefits of certain medications because such medicines can be misused or abused, and I do not believe that we negate the benefits of spirituality or religion by addressing misuse and abuse of them as well.”2 • Many patients would like their physician to inquire about their spiritual beliefs, especially in the setting of serious illnesses or the loss of loved ones.3 • Patients have greater spiritual needs during times of illnesses. • Religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes such as greater longevity, coping skills, and less anxiety and depression.4

• Physicians have spiritual thoughts or beliefs that may be stressed as they are exposed repeatedly to the human condition, suffering, death, and failure.

godcomplex. A creative writing anthology that juxtaposes biblical passages and clinical anecdotes god speed: an ominous journey & “The Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 13)

god only knows: (infml) it is impossible to say & “Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon” (Matthew 17)

god will ing: (infml) hopefully & “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2)

god for bid: (infml) I hope it does not happen & “The Parable of the Two Sons” (Matthew 21)

god giv en: ordained by God & “A Tree is Known by Its Fruit” (Matthew 12)

god for sak en: desolate, remote, deserted & “The Parable of the Lost Sheep” (Luke 15)

god send: something unexpected that is particularly timely & “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10)

god for bid: (infml) I hope it does not happen

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.”

Side by side in crowded pew while choir rung with joyous hymns, Two sisters prayed and sung and grew to celebrate forgiven sins. And sure as day, they learned with time to remain pure and undefiled, to abstain from sloth and greed and wine, and to never kill an unborn child. The eldest girl, her sins were few she set the narrow path. The youngest swerved and curved and knew that she deserved God’s wrath. And as it is, when life is cruel one moment changes all, To guard the babe - the golden rule will cause the angel’s fall.

The older one, despite her care, is filled with guilt and strife Nine months is far too much to bear she ends a precious life. The younger child – forever free – tumbles with men and sheets at will, would never abort if pregnant be, So, the morning after, she swallows a pill. Side by side in empty tomb Two sisters – sad and flawed – carry shame and blame and empty womb: Which one did the will of God?

“Conclusions” are elusive. We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. - TS Eliot

(1) Coles, R. The call of stories: teaching and the moral imagination. N Engl J Med 1990; 323: 1493 (2) McBride, J. L. The Missing Component in the Spirituality and Medicine Literature: Reflections. Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education 2011; 17(1): 7-9. (3) McGord, G., et al. Discussing Spirituality with Patients. Ann Fam Med 2004; 2(4): 356-361. (4) Mueller, P.S., et al. Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2001; 76(12) 1225-1235.