Joe Humphreys calls for societal conversation on the meaning of life (March 9th). In my experience of working with people suddenly confronted with the end of life, we have no difficulty in talking about what life means.
This is never more than when it is a child or young person, when families seek meaning in a life that is too short. Intuitively, a narrative is created around their child’s life which imbues meaning and brings a little comfort.
Healthcare staff are privileged to listen to this daily discussion of the meaning of life. It is humbling to observe a family sitting with their loving stories, weaving in individual meaning.
We ask the big question when life plunges us into devastation. It is in that moment that we hunger for a truth which reconciles us to human suffering and aching loss.
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Perhaps meaning can only be truly ascertained in those final days; it is too difficult to consider on any ordinary day. It is easier to postpone a debate on life’s fragility in favour of busyness.
Serious illness often grants a pause where such revelation can occur. We came close to a national conversation during the early days of the pandemic, when we talked about rationing healthcare resources and imminent wide-scale death. But when containment and vaccines provided recovery, we did not return to that demanding conversation.
Rather than waiting for the end of life to find meaning, I believe a more helpful question is what it is to live a meaningful life. This gentler inquiry opens a door to hope. It places the responsibility with each of us to live each day well, perhaps by speaking up and acting on injustice.
Endeavouring to live meaningfully overcomes inertia – it is not a coincidence that many bereaved parents take their personal understanding of the meaning of life and forge a new path of charity and community action after the death of their child.
Living meaningfully looks different for each of us, giving a unique shape to humanity. A meaningful life is something inspiring and infinitely achievable. – Yours, etc,
SUZANNE CROKE,
Consultant in paediatric intensive care medicine,
President of the Medical Council,
Dublin 6.
