| Dignity, liturgy needed at end of life BY KENNETH S. JONES Human life can now be prolonged far beyond the limits of a viable existence. I believe it is time for us to look into the future and consider what might be our response to the use of machines to keep a heart beating long after quality of life is gone. The purpose of this commentary is not to argue again the question of what is being called assisted suicide. Rather, it is to propose some rational and timely order of worship and celebration of life for a Christian believer whose quality of life has sunk to an irreversible level. While medical science continues to develop methods for repair of unbelievable injuries and natural malformations such as conjoined twins and surgical mistakes, there are too few conversations about the needless suffering inflicted on hopelessly ill people. These terminal patients end up spending tens of thousands of dollars and months in pain because no one is willing to grant them a peaceful death. I look forward to the day when a dying person in his or her right mind will be allowed to gather a doctor and pastor, celebrate Gods goodness, thank family and caregivers for their love and faithfulness, and offer a prayer of gratitude to God. Every person present could be informed in advance that this was to be a celebration of a life well-lived that is now ready to end. Following the celebration, the attending physician could administer a lethal injection and family members would proceed with funeral arrangements. The trouble with this scenario, in my view, is that many Christian people still do not believe that God is a God who suffers with us. God takes no pleasure either in our pain or the heartache of our loved ones. When our organs quit and a simple trip to the bathroom is too long a journey, I believe that our loving God will approve our giving up the struggle. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a Christian. It is supposed to be the fulfillment of the long-awaited promise. I pray that the number of years I have lived will never be cited as my greatest accomplishment. Sometime in the eighth decade of life we become remarkable when the more appropriate word is too often pitiable. Someday, I believe that the litany I have proposed will be accepted by the church and by all who celebrate the goodness of God. The Rev. Kenneth S. Jones, a retired member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, lives in Gaithersburg. | 
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