Raising Spirits: Stories of Suffering and Comfort at Death's Door

by Michael Goldberg

Raising Stories of Suffering and Comfort at Death's Door springs from Michael Goldberg's experiences serving dying patients as a hospital and hospice chaplain. Previously, he had held positions as a management consultant, a chaired university professor, and a congregational rabbi. Although each of those careers fulfilled some of his professional aspirations, none filled his spiritual hunger to find purpose in his life. In turning to chaplaincy and helping the gravely ill satisfy their craving for meaning at the end of their lives, Goldberg discovered spiritual sustenance in his. Raising Spirits is the first book to explore care giving at the end of life from a spiritual as well as clinical perspective. It tells the stories of Michael Goldberg's journeys with patients, their families, and loved ones as they try to face the challenges awaiting them at life's edges. In the process, Goldberg himself is tested as a committed Jew who, working largely among non-Jews, must continually reassess his identity and convictions. He comes to see that "spirituality" need not refer to things occult or otherworldly, but as Raising Spirits makes clear, to things in this world that can at least start to lift our spirits and revive them. The reciprocal process of gaining insight into patients and into oneself is possible, indeed crucial, for all who care for the sick, both lay and professional alike.

158 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Michael Goldberg is a nationally-acclaimed writer and speaker. He has held two university chairs in religious studies, worked with an international strategic management consulting firm, served as a professional ethicist with the Georgia Supreme Court as well as with various hospital ethics committees, and as an ordained rabbi, provided support to religiously-diverse patients and their families as an ICU and hospice chaplain.

Goldberg completed his undergraduate studies in philosophy at Yale received his Ph.D. in systematic theology and philosophy of religion from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Discussion of end of life issues very dated --does not reflect best practice in England.

[Robert]

These were powerful stories to read-- and contained huge lessons for me as a person who is often in a position to care for people in their final days, hours, and moments on Earth. Goldberg helps (in story form) all of us to recognize the various human frailties that arise both for individuals and their caregivers. Personally I was impacted by the book. It was brief and contained much light for my spirit.