Thriving in the Face of Mortality
Kenosis and the Mystery of Life
Foreword by Fr. John Behr
Imprint: Cascade Books
Kenosis, a Greek word meaning "depletion" or "emptying" and a concept borrowed from Christian theology, has deeply profound implications for understanding and ordering life in a world marked by suffering and death. Whereas the divine kenosis was voluntary, human beings experience an involuntary kenosis which is characterized by the inevitable losses experienced during the lives of mortal creatures. How one chooses voluntarily to respond to this involuntary kenosis, regardless of faith commitments, in effect defines us, both in our relationships with other suffering creatures and with the entire cosmos. This book offers a unique perspective on how the losses of involuntary kenosis choreograph the suffering which is such a defining aspect of the lives of persons, communities, and the environment in which they live, and how the kenotic process, rather than being a source of despair, can be a source of hope presenting opportunities for extraordinary personal growth.
Daniel B. Hinshaw, MD, is professor emeritus of surgery and consultant in palliative medicine at the University of Michigan. His interest in the role of suffering and death in life grew out of extensive clinical experience caring for suffering and dying patients but is also informed by his Orthodox Christian faith. He is the author of several books of nonfiction and one historical novel.
“Drawing on the wellsprings of Orthodox Christianity and a lifetime of self-emptying service in the medical profession, Daniel Hinshaw marshals a dizzying array of sources to guide us through the puzzle of life’s meaning in the face of our common mortality. He speaks to us gently, yet with the authority of profound experience, about how the involuntary kenosis confronting us can, by the gift of grace, be rendered voluntary and life-giving. A tour de force.”
—Alexis Torrance, University of Notre Dame
“Rare indeed are those in the academy who are both distinguished physicians and sophisticated theologians; rarer still are those who could have written Thriving in the Face of Mortality. We don’t have a choice about whether we will die, but the Christian notion of kenotic self-emptying offers a gracious freedom in how we face our deaths. Dan Hinshaw’s book will be a gift to all its readers.”
—Brad Gregory, University of Notre Dame
“Daniel Hinshaw unwraps the quintessential secret of the gospel: that life is attained in and through—not beyond or by cheating—death, that sharing is achieved in and through—not without or by avoiding—restraint, that fullness is acquired in and through—not despite or by denying—impoverishment. This is the way of spirituality, salvation, and sustainability alike.”
—John Chryssavgis, archdeacon, Ecumenical Patriarchate
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