“Owen-Towle’s text is a prayer to push away the fear we often associate with the end of life.”—from the Foreword by Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd

Plainly, I’m neither a scientific investigator nor a professional thanatologist. I’m a pastor, and my advice is straightforward: whatever the manner or date of our extinction might be, it behooves us to reflect deeply and prime diligently for our death, while we’re still awake and kicking. May we refrain from taking a spiritual bypass and face our own end as boldly and creatively as possible. Doing so will deliver unspeakable gifts both to ourselves and to our loved ones.

“Making Peace with Our Own Death may become one of the most important things we will ever do.”—From the opening chapter “Reflecting Upon Death Amidst a Pandemic”