Interstellar and Death
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Interstellar. The science was brilliant. It opened up my mind to pondering time in a totally new way. The idea of different worlds having different times was profound. To top it off was the concept of a black hole. All in all it was awe inspiring.
Next, the poem. Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night.” The integration of this poem about life and death into the film was, in its most profound sense, beautiful. Never have I seen poetry so brilliantly used on screen. I’ll simply leave the full text of it here so that you can experience and ponder it on your own (compliments of https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night).
———-
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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Lastly, I do have some complaints about the movie…Sadly, even this stellar (pun intended) movie presented not only one, but two scenes of characters getting out their last important words before breathing their last breath–connected to machines, lying in a hospital bed. Another Hollywood portrayal selling the idea that it’s normal to die in a hospital.
In the beginning, it was not so. Since the dawn of humanity, people have helped people live their dying in community.
But the world is different than it was 100 years ago–the USA is different. Most of us don’t know our neighbors. Our children, siblings, grandchildren, and friends don’t live in our city. And if they do, they can’t leave their jobs and lives to care for us full time in our dying days. And many of us lack shelter, financial resources, and even a supportive community.
This problem as been answered by visionaries of the new millennium with a solution: social model hospice homes. These nonprofit homes are powered by their local communities. Common features include:
● A beautiful, homey space
● Diverse volunteer presence
● Openness to care for all kinds of people and bodies
● 24/7 non-medical, holistic care
● Sliding scale or free-of-charge services
● Complimentary to hospice, not duplicative
● Open conversations and communications about death & dying
These spaces provide not just an alternative place to a hospital or nursing home, but a community for those living their dying experience and for their loved ones. They become a home away from home–and for some, the only home they’ve known.
We are so proud to be hosting the national Omega Home Conference this year - June 1-3! We can’t wait to meet the 100+ attendees and visionaries from around the United States, representing over 50 homes and project homes.
Our dream is that every community will be within reach of one of these homes.