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I sometimes hear comments that Lazarus could have heard. One of my Christian doctors said, "There's no medical reason you are alive. You are a miracle at the hand of God." Tim often reminds me, "Life is fragile, so leave nothing unsaid." In spite of daily physical effects of the trauma, I've learned that radical obedience (in my case, having a baby at 40) is worth any cost, that prayer is inconceivably important, that miracles still happen, and that I have a faith worth dying for.

Would I want to live without cognitive awareness? Well, no. Wanting to avoid suffering is human. Even Christ asked if his suffering could be avoided. I believe there are times when it is acceptable and ethical to remove medical treatment from our loved ones. But in all cases, we should weigh our desire to be released from suffering against a greater desire to glorify God. If I had predetermined no life support (or only short-duration support), as some have in advance directives, I'd be dead. I'd also perhaps have missed the greatest opportunity of my life to bring God glory, because he can use us for his purposes in any bodily state—even while we're sleeping.

Lindsey O'Connor is an author, speaker, and former news anchor. Her most recent book is If Mama Goes South, We're All Going with Her (Revell, 2003).

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More CT coverage of Teri Schiavo includes:

Reprieve for Brain-Damaged Woman | But Christian activists say the fight to protect the disabled is far from over. (Nov. 25, 2003)

Why I Believe in Divorce | A disabled Florida woman's only hope to stay on life support is to divorce her husband who wants to pull the plug. (Oct. 16, 2003)

Christianity Today's Life Ethics archive and sister publication Books & Culture's Science Pages have more perspective on bioethics, including:

A Heaven-made Activist | Joni Eareckson Tada is driven forward by hymns of praise and her sovereign God. (Jan. 09, 2004)

The Techno Sapiens Are Coming | When God fashioned man and woman, he called his creation very good. Transhumanists say that, by manipulating our bodies with microscopic tools, we can do better. Are we ready for the great debate? (Dec. 19, 2003)

Define 'Better' | One person's improvement is another person's degeneration. (Dec. 19, 2003)

Souls on Ice | The costs of in vitro fertilization are moral and spiritual—not just financial. (June 24, 2003)

400,000 and Counting | Christians recoil at the explosive growth of frozen human embryos. (June 24, 2003)

The Threat of Biotech | Joni Eareckson Tada responds to Christopher Reeve and others. (March 28, 2003)

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February 2004, Vol. 48, No. 2