E089 Nora Fueten Faces a Fatal Diagnosis
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 89
Date: October 10, 2023
Participants: John Webster, Elise Seifert, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Rev. Nora Fueten
Start Times and Segments:
[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: Social wellness - a post with ideas to make connections with other people.
[0:09:31] Expanding Minds Interview: [Many areas of Wellness] Rev. Nora Feuten received a terminal cancer diagnosis. She shares her impressions and experiences as she faces the situation. She knows that death is part of life, even though we like to pretend it isn’t. Every moment is precious. Every person you meet is precious. Every experience you have is precious. You keep that in mind. Life probably has more to do with the quality of our witness than achievement – the way we express in our lives a kind of creative hopefulness. A kind of morality is important, but not the strict kind of morality – a morality that’s based on a care and concern for the other, whether it’s another person or the earth or what. We need to have that.
[0:25:16] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron is mostly over Covid and feeling better. He’ played serious catch-up with work, with lots of curveballs and fires to put out. He’s headed to Colorado for a wedding.
[0:29:14] Move That Body: Sheila quizzes Elise about the six major muscle groups in a weights workout.
[0:34:46] Running Popup: Seeing someone making running movements while moving at a walking pace. Why it was great to see.
[0:36:49] Flipside of the Coin: An analogy – finding balance in life is kind of like getting the chemicals balanced in a swimming pool.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Rev. Nora – I was very clear with the oncologist and he understands that I’m not interest in treatments if I won’t have quality of life.
Rev. Nora – I have always been dealing with the big questions, because as a Minister I’ve dealt with many people who are dying. In my own family I’ve seen brother and sister die, my parents die. I’ve had a lot of chance to think about what it’s all about. The fact of the matter is that death is part of life. We like to pretend it isn’t. We like to put that out of our minds and act as if we’re going to be here forever, and we’re always going to be healthy and we’re always going to be able to do the things we like to do, but that’s simply unrealistic. That’s not the way things are.
Rev. Nora – Appreciating the moment and living in the moment is the main thing. What we have is today – is this minute right now. That’s what we have for sure. Every moment is precious. Every person you meet is precious. Every experience you have is precious. You keep that in mind as you’re going through.
Rev. Nora – We don’t know what happens when we die. I’m not a scientist but I’ve learned enough to know there isn’t any place where the Pearly Gates version of heaven could be. It’s unrealistic. However, I feel very strongly that I have been enwrapped by a kind of love and direction, and a kind of pushing that kept me going in trying new things, which is a very creative and loving energy. Physicists will back me up on this. That energy does not disappear. It gets transformed into something else.
Rev. Nora – Ilia Delio is a scientist and a Roman Catholic theologian. She combines the energy that created the cosmos in the first place with the idea of the energy that surrounds us all; with the energy that cause leaves to come out in the spring and causes them to die in the fall. All of that is part of what some people call the Cosmic Dance. That’s where we fit in – in the middle of all that. There is the concept that death is the door to a new life – a new expression of the creative energy that has kept us going all this time. That would be nice. Id’ like that.
Rev. Nora – I grew up in a family where achievement was considered very important. That’s okay, particularly when you’re starting out in life. That sense of direction helps you finish your education and figure out what you’re going to do and establish yourself. All of that is very important, but it isn’t everything. At a certain age people very often will look at you and say, “Is this all?” I put all my energy into my accomplishments and into my career, but I have a feeling I’m missing something. That’s the point where you start to think, as much as it’s nice to get money and get kudos and have people say, “you did a wonderful job”, it’s not really what it’s all about. It probably has more to do with the quality of our witness – the way we express in our lives a kind of creative hopefulness. A kind of morality is important, but not the strict kind of morality – a morality that’s based on a care and concern for the other, whether it’s another person or the earth or what. We need to have that. We need to have that.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Cameron: On my birthday I felt like an absolute sack of crap.
Guest Information: Reverend Nora Fueten is retired and she’s a United Church Minister. She studied Music at University of Calgary and obtained her Masters of Divinity from Emanuel College at University of Toronto. Some experiences include growing up in the Brantford area, five years as a vocal coach and assistant conductor with an opera in Dusseldorf, Germany, sheep farming in Brant County and leading a cappella choir. She’s active politically and was a Green Party candidate. Her husband Horst, who passed away in 2018, was born in Germany. Nora has two daughters, a stepson and three grandchildren.
Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Be.Well.Together
Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle and Julie