A Tragic OperaA Tragic Opera- - Can it be a Source of Can it be a Source of

inspiration?inspiration?

CancerCancer

and its decisive impact on human and its decisive impact on human existenceexistence

A Tragic Opera with 6 Acts

1. Suffering losses that bring grief

2. Threatened by isolation from life and relationship networks

3. Attacked by the hounds of fear

4. Struggling with questions about guilt

5. Thrown around by emotional struggles

6. Battling with various types of pain

All acts are performed simultaneously!

Act 1: Suffering Act 1: Suffering losseslosses that bring grief that bring grief1.1. Wellbeing / mobility / physical self-controlWellbeing / mobility / physical self-control

2.2. Loss of dignity: physical / mental / emotionalLoss of dignity: physical / mental / emotional

3.3. Bodily strengthBodily strength

4.4. Identity / control / decision makingIdentity / control / decision making

5.5. Relationships Relationships

6.6. Work / security / social status / possessionsWork / security / social status / possessions

7.7. FutureFuture

8.8. Opportunities to make peace with God Opportunities to make peace with God

9.9. Ultimately, loss of own bodyUltimately, loss of own body

Act 2: Threatened by isolation from life and relationship networks

1. Dying is an individual process

2. Social factors can contribute

3. Nature of the disease can contribute

4. Can experience isolation even when not so

Act 3: Attacked

by the hounds of fear1. The nature and seriousness of the disease2. The future / re family / re finances3. Suffering and pain4. Dependence on others / Helplessness5. Being a burden6. Being alone / being abandoned7. Humiliation 8. Not being able to cope emotionally9. Separation from loved ones / from God10. The unknown11. Punishment / judgment12. Losing mental capacities

Act 4: Struggling Act 4: Struggling with questions about with questions about guiltguilt

1.1. Guilt is the consequence of breaking Guilt is the consequence of breaking a law; it is a judicial state, not a a law; it is a judicial state, not a feelingfeeling

2.2. Four types of guiltFour types of guilt1.1. PersonalPersonal2.2. SocialSocial3.3. LegalLegal4.4. TheologicalTheological

3.3. Guilt about:Guilt about:1.1. Bad things doneBad things done2.2. Good things not doneGood things not done

Act 5: Thrown around Act 5: Thrown around by by emotional strugglesemotional struggles

Denial Denial Rebellion Rebellion

Negotiation Negotiation Restlessness Restlessness

Anger Anger Distrust Distrust Despair Despair

Disappointment Disappointment Doubt Doubt

Criticism Criticism Depression Depression Bitterness Bitterness

Insight Insight SurrenderSurrenderAcceptanceAcceptancePeace, clear consciencePeace, clear conscienceMeeknessMeeknessTrust in relationshipsTrust in relationshipsCourage, hopeCourage, hopeSatisfactionSatisfactionCertainty, securityCertainty, securityAppreciation, gratitudeAppreciation, gratitudeComforted, joyComforted, joyReconciliation, forgivenessReconciliation, forgiveness

6. Battling with various types of pain

Human inside

Human outside

Relationship networks

EnvironmentView of human being

Transcendent

The main aria - the song of the cancer suffererThe main aria - the song of the cancer sufferer

1. Please draw a cancer history timeline from five years before you first noticed something was wrong right up to today

1. Either from the patient perspective2. Or from the relative / friend perspective

2. In this timeline show highs and lows where the cancer sufferer was facing various aspects of the six acts: losses, isolation, fear, guilt, emotional struggles and pain

3. Share this with one another in the discussion time asking: What can we learn from this history?

1994 20001989

Example: Cancer History Timeline

Possible extra activities:Possible extra activities:

You might want to expand a section of the timeline on another sheet of paper to show more detailsWrite a poem about your time lineMake a drawing / painting about your time lineWrite an essay about your time lineWhat about a daily journal where you examine all six acts of the opera?

Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

1. Share your Cancer History Timeline in the group 2. Group members are not allowed to give comments

or advice, only to ask clarifying questions.3. You might want to add some extra elements to your

timeline 1. Questions remind you of something2. Other stories remind you of something

4. When the person has finished their own story, discuss: What can we learn from this history?

Facing Death Facing Death in the Tragic Operain the Tragic Opera Spiritual needs of those with cancerSpiritual needs of those with cancer What about life after death?What about life after death? The second aria – the experience of The second aria – the experience of

the survivorsthe survivors Group DiscussionsGroup Discussions Plenary Feedback: what we have Plenary Feedback: what we have

learnt from one another’s learnt from one another’s experiencesexperiences

7 basic spiritual 7 basic spiritual needs of those with needs of those with cancercancer1.1. Good relationship with GodGood relationship with God

2.2. Good relationships with relativesGood relationships with relatives

3.3. HopeHope

4.4. MeaningMeaning

5.5. PurposePurpose

6.6. Life concluded with no loose endsLife concluded with no loose ends

7.7. Prepared for the transitionPrepared for the transition

What about life after death?What about life after death?a Christian perspectivea Christian perspective

Conception

Birth

Death

Second coming of Christ

Paradise

Hades

New heaven and new earth

Gehenna / Hell

How can we make sure How can we make sure our life after death is our life after death is good?good?

From a model developed byFrom a model developed by

Dr Walt LarimoreDr Walt Larimore

The wages of sin is death but the gift The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord our Lord (Romans 6: 23)(Romans 6: 23)

wagessin

deathbut

Godeternal life

gift

Jesus Christ

Lord

The second aria The second aria - the song of the relative- the song of the relative

1.1. Please draw a close relative/friend Please draw a close relative/friend history timeline from five years before history timeline from five years before you first noticed something was wrong you first noticed something was wrong up to todayup to today1.1. Either from the patient perspectiveEither from the patient perspective

2.2. Or from the relative / friend perspectiveOr from the relative / friend perspective

2.2. In this timeline show highs and lows In this timeline show highs and lows where the relative / friend of the cancer where the relative / friend of the cancer sufferer was facing various aspects of sufferer was facing various aspects of the six scenes: losses, isolation, fear, the six scenes: losses, isolation, fear, guilt, emotional struggles and painguilt, emotional struggles and pain

Discussion TimeDiscussion Time

1.1. Share your Cancer History Timeline Share your Cancer History Timeline in the group in the group

2.2. Group members are not allowed to Group members are not allowed to give comments or advice, only to give comments or advice, only to ask clarifying questions.ask clarifying questions.

3.3. When the person has finished his / When the person has finished his / her own story, discuss: What can her own story, discuss: What can we learn from this history? How we learn from this history? How can we sing better?can we sing better?

Plenary Feedback: Plenary Feedback: What have we learnt?What have we learnt?

Not allow work to ruin your lifeNot allow work to ruin your life Doctors should learn to share the news about cancer in a Doctors should learn to share the news about cancer in a

better waybetter way Relatives are very important to cancer patientsRelatives are very important to cancer patients Give special attention to how the children experience the Give special attention to how the children experience the

cancer of relativescancer of relatives Power of the Word of God if used in a good wayPower of the Word of God if used in a good way People also go through the six acts in other traumatic People also go through the six acts in other traumatic

situations: divorce, sudden death of a loved onesituations: divorce, sudden death of a loved one Sometimes cancer patients experience other situations Sometimes cancer patients experience other situations

(divorce / sudden death of a loved one) as more traumatic (divorce / sudden death of a loved one) as more traumatic than their cancerthan their cancer

Even if we do not have cancer, we need to prepare ourselves Even if we do not have cancer, we need to prepare ourselves for deathfor death

Live life to the full in any caseLive life to the full in any case All of us are going to die at some stage; as we realize this it All of us are going to die at some stage; as we realize this it

gives such a different perspective to lifegives such a different perspective to life

Sing your aria to inspire others

in the tragic opera of cancer

Make a whole person diagnosis

Human inside

Human outside

Relationship networks

EnvironmentView of human being

Transcendent

• Make a strengths / weaknesses evaluation of all relationships in the diagram

Work towards whole person wholeness

Human inside

Human outside

Relationship networks

EnvironmentView of human being

Transcendent

• Relating rightly to– inner human, – outer human,– relationship

network,– environment – transcendent

• Biblical concept that covers all these aspects:

Shalom

Paint a life of SHALOM

• Shalom touches all areas of life

• What it is:– The presence, blessing and peace of God– Jesus Christ Himself

• Shalom continues all the way right through death, so it can always be our goal

What needs to be done about my spiritual needs?

1. Good relationship with God

2. Good relationships with relatives

3. Hope

4. Meaning

5. Purpose

6. Life concluded with no loose ends

7. Prepared for the transition