BEGINNING
AGAIN
April 2005
This year Easter has taken on a new meaning as Terri Sciavo's
life ebbs away. Christians have been lining up on both sides
of the issue as to whether her feeding tubes should have been
removed. Part of the controversy lies in how persons understand
the meaning of life, the nature of consciousness, and the concept
of soul.
The ancient Greeks first described the three-fold nature of our
human identity. There was life itself, bios, a conglomeration
of cells put together in such a way as to become a functioning
organism, with humans the most complex of the animals. And then
there was the mind, nous, the ability to think and reason,
to create and to interact with and appreciate one's environment.
Think of it as the software that runs the computer. And then
there is the soul, psyche, which makes us who we are,
our personalities, our ability to comprehend beauty and to love.
In Terry Sciavo's case, the neurologists and other physicians
tell us that we are dealing now only with a biological mechanism
who years ago lost her cognitive abilities and those qualities
that enabled her to interact with the outside world. Of course
they cannot address the nature of the soul---they are physicians,
not metaphysicians. And so we are left to ponder the nature of
existence and wonder what is the right course of action. The
situation is no longer about Terri Sciavo, but about those who
love her and want to do what is best.
What I find very strange is how so many Christians seem to fear
death, as if the worst possible thing that could happen would
be for a person's biological life to end. It seems like there
are a lot of Christians who have a hard time believing in Easter.
Death is not the end, but the beginning of other possibilities.
Our Easter faith affirms life in the midst of death. It affirms
the ability to begin again in spite of all life's difficulties
and tragedies. There is no question about it, life is hard and
we will have to deal with 9-11, Columbine, Red Lake, tsunamis,
the African killing fields, and the thousands of other issues
in our own lives.
The message of Easter is that we can begin again. The resurrection
gives us hope, not only for when we die, but for here and now.
Matthew says that the two Mary's left the tomb "with fear
and with great joy." The fear came with not knowing. We
can be apprehensive about life with all its perplexities and
uncertainties. But then we encounter Jesus who says, "Do
not be afraid." If we know that our story is never-ending
and subject to our continual revisions and editing, then we,
too, should have no fear.
Easter is our celebration of renewal and beginning again, secure
in God's love.
Dr. Harry L. Serio
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