Conflict among family members is common and often unavoidable. And rarely is family conflict more apparent than when issues involving life and death are present.
Dr. Edward P. Hanna facilitates mediation for families that are in conflict regarding end-of-life issues, including end-of-life care and estate settlement. A mediator is not a lawyer, although lawyers are sometimes involved in the settlement of these issues.
By the way, do you know who are the 20 richest people in the world? Bloomberg News yesterday launched its current list. Not many surprises. The top three remain on top. They include Carlos Slim Helu, Bill Gates and Warren E Buffett. I have a hard time imagining what one could possibly do with a billion dollars, let alone over 40-60 billion. But I'm sidetracked.
Jesus' rich man expanded his business and congratulated himself. He had done well. He had invested wisely, hired the right people, laid out his business plans, tricked his competitors and now he could say congratulate himself in his soul, "Man, you've got it made. You worked hard and now's the time to enjoy life. Now's the time to take that ship of yours and cruise to your favorite island to eat, drink all you want and party all night. Its what you've dreamed about all these years."
One problem. That night he died! Maybe it was a heart attack. Nobody could be certain. What was certain was that this man stood before the Judge of all that night to give an account, not of his personal wealth, but of what he had done with what the Lord of us all had entrusted to his hands.
In the days of my pastoral ministry I frequently observed and occasionally became involved in such family quarrels. Critical in those times is the counsel of Jesus about how we who follow Him are to view our lives, our food and our clothing. There's a lot more to life than food and much more to the body than clothing. Study the rest of Luke 12. Its full of wisdom.
Back to Dr. Hanna's point. Do you have a will? Do your parents have wills? Has your family talked about these end of life issues—before mom or dad dies? Need I say any more?
"What happens is that mom and dad plan, but they don't communicate those plans for end-of-life issues and distribution of assets," Hanna said during a recent seminar sponsored by the Circle of Life Coalition Inc., a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate the public on issues relating to the end of life.In the Gospel of Luke we read that Jesus was asked to serve in this capacity.
The lack of communication results in misunderstanding, which leads to conflict. In cases where family members were not communicating well prior to the crisis situation, resolving that conflict becomes even more difficult.
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."This is indeed a much needed warning. The occasion prompted our Lord to tell the story of a rich man whose holdings had just made him even richer. As a result he set out to expand his business (Luke 12:16-21).
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"
And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." - Luk 12:13-15 ESV
By the way, do you know who are the 20 richest people in the world? Bloomberg News yesterday launched its current list. Not many surprises. The top three remain on top. They include Carlos Slim Helu, Bill Gates and Warren E Buffett. I have a hard time imagining what one could possibly do with a billion dollars, let alone over 40-60 billion. But I'm sidetracked.
Jesus' rich man expanded his business and congratulated himself. He had done well. He had invested wisely, hired the right people, laid out his business plans, tricked his competitors and now he could say congratulate himself in his soul, "Man, you've got it made. You worked hard and now's the time to enjoy life. Now's the time to take that ship of yours and cruise to your favorite island to eat, drink all you want and party all night. Its what you've dreamed about all these years."
One problem. That night he died! Maybe it was a heart attack. Nobody could be certain. What was certain was that this man stood before the Judge of all that night to give an account, not of his personal wealth, but of what he had done with what the Lord of us all had entrusted to his hands.
In the days of my pastoral ministry I frequently observed and occasionally became involved in such family quarrels. Critical in those times is the counsel of Jesus about how we who follow Him are to view our lives, our food and our clothing. There's a lot more to life than food and much more to the body than clothing. Study the rest of Luke 12. Its full of wisdom.
Back to Dr. Hanna's point. Do you have a will? Do your parents have wills? Has your family talked about these end of life issues—before mom or dad dies? Need I say any more?
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