Life As a Choice

When I read that “the terminally ill” is he who is medically expected to live up to six months, I recalled my father-in-law. He had fallen ill. I had a friend who is a doctor, living abroad, he singles me out with a visit every time he comes to Lebanon. I consulted him about my father-in-law’s condition. He said: “he still has six months”. He gave an opinion as a specialist. The six months went by. He was in Lebanon. He called me asking to pay us a visit to offer us his condolences. The condolence visit took place two years after the discovery of the disease. Life and death are in God's hands. I am not debating with those who, on the spur of the moment, request to terminate the lives of their dying patients. What I am saying is that had you asked my father-in-law about this decision of termination, when it had become difficult for him to make the decision, he would have answered you: “now I am starting to live”! If death is not certain before us, our option is to choose life. I know how hard it is to defend life in Lebanon nowadays! What I am telling you, whether Lebanon is in the abyss or on the heights, it can only be affirmed by our awareness that we are partners in one destiny.