end-time midwifery

Mother Theresa used to observe (I think) that the ministry she engaged in was akin to that of a midwife.

Except that whereas a midwife is bringing a person into the world, she was helping a person leave this world. She saw it as a privilege.

So do I. And at least some part of my time is spent thus.

Not just in the more formal aspects of 'departing this world' in the sense of conducting the funeral services in respect of those who have died - though there is quite a lot of that, and today has been no exception: but more particularly in 'accompanying' folk through the final days of their earthly life.

There's been that today as well. People who don't now have long to live at all. The chance to spend time with them.

I'm sure I once heard that in days gone by it used to be that when looking for a new minister a congregation would set them with a dying person for a while, and see how they ministered there.

How do you speak with a person who's soon to die? What will you say? How will you be?

Richard Baxter was a pastor in Kidderminster a few centuries back: his famous couplet remains powerfully challenging -

"I preached as never sure to preach again,
And as a dying man to dying men."

Mother Theresa was right. It's midwifery at the other end of our earthly lives - and infinitely more important.