by Sue Compton
This October, you will see a new offering on the Main Line Unitarian Church (MLUC) calendar: Mortality Musings. You might be curious about what this offering is, why we are choosing to offer it, and where such an idea came from.
Around the world, in small towns, big cities, and virtual meeting rooms, folks of all ages gather to share conversations about topics related to death, end of life, and mortality in general. Some of you may have heard the term “Death Cafe,” which refers to these conversations about death that are held with a particular guide and set of principles. Death Cafes began in 2011, and are offered in more than 100 countries. If you would like to learn more about the movement, I encourage you to visit the Death Cafe website to learn more about the history and offerings.
I have attended a few different Death Cafes, both in person and virtual, and have also participated in other group conversations focused on death and related topics. The more I learn about death, and the more I think about my own, the more comfortable I have become with the topic, and the more joy I can bring to my planning, and my life in general.
These conversations are important for all of us. Held in a safe space, without any expected outcome, and with time for questions, stories, and vulnerability, they let us approach death and dying in ways that are gentle, nourishing, and full of wonder. When we gather in this way to engage with topics that many consider taboo, we can soften our relationship with death, our own and others’, in ways that allow us to live more fully now, and to engage more fully with our lives until the moment we take our last breath. Along the way, we can explore ideas that are new to us and allow creativity to be a part of the journey.
After all, we are alive until we die; since death is just one moment, engaging with all that this mortal path entails, including thinking about the end, might allow us to see death and life through a different lens. I invite you to be open to the possibility that these conversations can actually be enjoyable, even when the topic is challenging.
At MLUC, we have chosen the name Mortality Musings to allow flexibility in our approach as we gather to contemplate the final end, death, and what it means for our lives. We will meet in Greeley Library at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of each month, beginning Oct 5. I hope you will consider joining us, as together we explore our mortality with open minds and open hearts.