Mercy: Life in the Season of Dying

by Peter Roebbelen

In this wise and hopeful book, reminiscent of  Tuesdays with Morrie,  a pastor reveals lessons for living he's learned from the dying.

What would you do with your life, if you knew it was going to end soon? Peter Roebbelen's Mercy distills the life lessons he's discovered from sitting at the bedsides of courageous people facing death's certainty. He explores the gifts that people have given him and this wisdom he has gleaned, almost as if he's been the one being counseled, rather than the other way around.  

This joyful and instructive book encourages us to live to the fullest in the present, and to love the people around us as never before.

 

196 pages, Paperback

Published January 9, 2018

Reviews

[David Nickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy is a trilogy of storytelling, insight and self-disclosure. The author starts by saying “when I became a pastor nearly 30 years ago, no one warned me about death and dying.” In a very real sense, this is his version of a warning, when he confessed that “The dying were living better than I was.” The undercurrent of the book expands on the author's own journey of life as he walks pastorally and personally with dozens of people towards death. By telling their stories he tells his own story of letting go, finding tears and living well.

Each chapter stands alone as a story, but the flow of the book repeats some important themes. For instance, he asks what feels like a hundred questions, letting me know that merely asking them is important. And then he says they are important enough to answer, or at least try to. He takes clichés about death and then punches through them including saying “you can’t take it with you. You only take you.” I like that Peter weaves together teachings from various cultures, philosophers and theologians. Clearly this is a topic he has researched as much as he has experienced.

Finally, the book teaches me more about Jesus. It is quite telling that the author uses Jesus’ own walk towards death not only as the salvific work that it is but also the model of full humanity. Seeing Jesus talk frankly about his pending death and preparing his friends, making sure his mom is looked after and even providing solace to a fellow palliative patient, taught me that Jesus not only died for me, but showed me how to die well.

[Kim Goodfellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is as much about living as it is about dying. I personally found the chapter 'Surrender' to be particularly meaningful. The stories are heartfelt and give insight into the questions, emotions, challenges and victories of dying. I learned how to be better in walking with others through the pain and suffering of a loved one dying. I am inspired to LIVE better. As Roebbelen says in his book "These are matters of the soul - deep loss stirs the very core of our being." I highly recommend this book and will be reading it again.