I Tell You a Mystery: Life, Death, and Eternity

Arnold, senior elder of the Bruderhof, a Christian community that practices communal living as taught in the book of Acts and emphasizes the lessons taught by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, and editor-in-chief of the Plough, writes in a prayerful and simple way about death. His meditations are intended both for those who are dying and those who are caretakers of the dying. Arnold reminds the dying that their love for God and their loving and purposeful relationships with others have made their lives complete and have prepared them to accept their deaths. For hospice workers and religious professionals who are caregivers for the dying, Arnold urges that caretaking be motivated by the love and respect that the dying have earned through their own lives of love. In a society where death is often feared or looked upon as an inconvenience, this book is a gentle reminder that there may be something more substantial to the dance of life and death. (Feb.)