On 14 October 2020, Selwyn Foundation Spiritual Director Reverend Caroline Leys and Hospice NZ Clinical Advisor Professor Rod MacLeod presented the topic ‘The Last Stage of Human Growth is Mortality’.

The focus of the topic is on older people, although there is some relevance for death from mid-life years, but not so much relevance for children and young adults.

Caroline and Rod discussed, all stages of life provide opportunity for growth and discovery, and that well engaged mortality strengthens growth. The knowledge of negotiating the personal concept of mortality, that our life as we know it is finite. This can challenge us, it can bring to the surface questions such as:

Have we made a difference?

Are we leaving a legacy?

Are we surrounded by love or are we alone?

Do we need to find reconciliation because of difficulty?

These questions are in the realm of spirituality, they are philosophical questions about meaning and purpose. However, we may be frightened of everything we know coming to an end, or it may be painful to have the honest discussion, we may find it difficult to raise the matters that concern us.

The discussion, based on the belief that those of us who work with people near the end of their life need to develop our fluency to open opportunities for these conversations, and to be ready to have the difficult conversations. Rod and Caroline explore all these factors, including: how family encounter and cope, or not, with what their elder is really needing and wanting in the last stage of their life.

Once you have purchased access to this webinar recording we will contact you with the connection details.

If you joined the above October webinar and you're looking for the second Ageing and Spirituality webinar please click here: 'Spiritual strength: does it matter?

Photo of Kotuku Point, Great Barrier Island, facing north to Hawaiki Nui. Captured by Stephen Leys ©