" A hospice chaplain passes on wisdom on giving meaning to life, from those taking leave of it"

As a hospice chaplain, Kerry Egan didn't offer sermons or prayers, unless they were requested; in fact, she found, the dying rarely want to talk about God, at least not overlying, she discovered she's been granted an invaluable chance to witness firsthand what she calls the " Spiritual work of dying"---

the work of finding or making meaning of one's life, the experiences its contained and the people who have touched it, the betrayals, wounds, unfinished business, and unrealized dream. Instead of taking, she mainly listened: to stories of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation she listened as her patients talked about love--love for their children and partners and friends;

love they didn't know how to offer; love they gave unconditionally; love they sometimes belatedly, learned to grant themselves this isn't a book about dying--its a book living. And Egan isn't a book about dying--its a book about living. And Egan isn't just passively bearing witness to

these stories. An emergency procedure during the birth of her first child left her physically whole but emotionally and spiritually adrift. Her work as a hospice. Chaplain healed her, from a brokenness she cam to see we all share.

Each of her patients taught her something--how to find courage in the face of fear or the strength to make amends, how to be profound compassionate and fiercely empathetic; how to see the world in grays instead of black and white. In this poignant, moving, and beautiful book, she passes along all their precious and necessary gifts"--provided by publisher. a hospices chaplain shares the meaning the dying make of their lives, to help us understand what is ultimately important and to make the most of our own still-being lived lives" provided by publisher.