Pythia Peay

The terminally ill would benefit from the recognition that dying can be a time of growth, argues Pythia Peay in the following viewpoint. The end of life offers opportunities for individuals to reconcile with family members and loved ones, discover the meaning of one’s life, and develop a deeper spirituality, the author maintains. With guidance from compassionate caregivers, the fatally ill can learn to accept their mortality and die peacefully. Peay is a columnist for Religion News Service and the author of Putting America on the Couch.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What are the stages of end-of-life growth, according to this viewpoint?
2. According to the author, what is “contemplative caregiving"”
3. In the opinion of Ira Byock, quoted by Peay...