Losing Life: My Response to Brittany Maynard
USA Today headlines revealed that Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old, recently married teacher, purposely ended her life on her own schedule November 1st. She had been diagnosed in April of this year with a fatal brain tumor. When doctors told her the cancer likely would kill her in six months, she moved her family from California to Oregon because that state has a “death with dignity” law, making assisted suicide legal.
Brittany said she had no intention of allowing the disease to control how she lived or how she died. "I'm not killing myself. Cancer is killing me. I am choosing to go in a way that is less suffering and less pain.” She stated in an interview she disliked the word “suicide.” “I am already dying from cancer. I don't want to die. People who commit suicide are typically people who want to die.” Undergirded by that philosophy, she ingested a lethal cocktail while her family surrounded her bedside.
In what I read about Brittany and her decision, there was no mention of the LORD God. My heart sympathizes with her. Why should she not end the pain or incapacity that disease inflicted on her? I assume that she wanted to keep control of her life, and that she had no intention of giving her Creator control. In that light, I agree with her decision. Only the LORD knows what the eternal repercussions will be for her decision.
But I would chose differently. Pain and suffering need to be accepted in this life, no matter how difficult. The LORD is the author and finisher of one’s life. The Creator knit you together in the womb and He is the One who has the ultimate say in your death.
The Word of God promises there is value to suffering in Christ. For people whose lives are committed to Jesus, ALL things (disease, pain, loss of mental control) work together for good. Every day, every minute, every experience in our lives (suffering included) are orchestrated by God and have eternal purpose. Each of us needs to come to the point in our lives when we agree with God and say, “You, my Beloved Creator, can do with my body and with my soul whatever You choose.”
Do you believe that in losing your life for God’s sake, you will save your life for eternity? Jesus says (in Luke 9:24 NLT), “If you try to hang on to [the control] of your life, you will lose it. But if you give up [control of] your life for my sake, you will save it.” When you can say that, your soul becomes truly free —even in the darkness times of your life.
