On Living

Synopsis

"Illuminating, unflinching and ultimately inspiring... A book to treasure." -People Magazine "Equal parts memoir and meditative text on the nature of life....this beautiful book will speak to parts of your heart that you didn't even realize were hurting. What's more: It might help heal them." --Refinery29 "This is not just a book about dying. It's one that will inspire readers to make the most of every day." --Publishers Weekly (starred)A hospice chaplain passes on wisdom on giving meaning to life, from those taking leave of it. As a hospice chaplain, Kerry Egan didn't offer sermons or prayers, unless they were requested; in fact, she found, the dying rarely want to talk about God, at least not overtly. Instead, she discovered she'd been granted an invaluable chance to witness firsthand what she calls the "spiritual work of dying"--the work of finding or making meaning of one's life, the experiences it's contained and the people who have touched it, the betrayals, wounds, unfinished business, and unrealized dreams. Instead of talking, she mainly listened: to stories of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation and secrets held too long. Most of all, though, she listened as her patients talked about love--love for their children and partners and friends; love they didn't know how to offer; love they gave unconditionally; love they, sometimes belatedly, learned to grant themselves. This isn't a book about dying--it's a book about living. And Egan isn't just passively bearing witness to these stories. An emergency procedure during the birth of her first child left her physically whole but emotionally and spiritually adrift. Her work as a hospice chaplain healed her, from a brokenness she came to see we all share. Each of her patients taught her something--how to find courage in the face of fear or the strength to make amends; how to be profoundly compassionate and fiercely empathetic; how to see the world in grays instead of black and white. In this poignant, moving, and beautiful book, she passes along all their precious and necessary gifts.From the Hardcover edition.

Copyright:

2016

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9780698409323

Related ISBNs:

9781594634819

Publisher:

Penguin Publishing Group

Date of Addition:

10/25/16

Copyrighted By:

Kerry Egan

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Health, Mind and Body, Religion and Spirituality

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.