Once in the Clinical Pastoral Experience  (CPE),  I was doing rounds in the local hospital as part of chaplaincy program. I remember I was near a room where I could hear a loud voice. It wasn't a scream but some muffled words I could not tell what they were. I went into the room guided by the sounds but I thought no one was in there since there seem to be no one physically there. 
   As I approached the bed I realized someone was in there. It was an elderly man. His eyes were bright and lucid and suddenly he grabbed my hand, almost yanking it. His hand was soft but I was perplexed why he was pulling my hand so abruptly. It was almost as if he was sinking and needed someone to help him from drowning. In a way he was sinking into all the bedsheets surrounding him. However what got my attention was the next words he uttered. I still couldn't tell his slurred words much but I understood what he said, "How dare you leave me alone!"  He uttered this phrase a couple of times, "How dare you leave me alone!" and held firmly my hand. I was just struck and kept saying, "I am here for you."  Repeating the phrase until he grew tired and he calmed down.  I was there for about 2 minutes but this was the most impactful and meaningful experience of the CPE program. 
   This really ties in with the readings today "Remember your last days, set enmity aside." I didn't know much about this man. I hope I was there for him at least in the hour of his death. However it was evident there were some unresolved issues in his life. His cry for help really moved me. He felt abandoned. Someone had abandoned him in his life.  No family members, no friends, no one at his side.  Please do not come to the hour of your death alone and with much anger in your heart. Forgive so you can let go. The experience with this elderly person may have been that or something else. But there are many other people dying alone in hospitals with grudges in their hearts.  Forgive so that the hour of your death you can close your eyes confidently because there is nothing left unresolved. Don't be that person having so much difficulty dying with so much resentment in your heart, because maybe there won't be anyone to hold your hand. Forgive before you go, set enmity aside so as to die in peace. Be surrounded by your loved ones even those you had to forgive multiple times in life.  The key of a good holy death is forgiveness.