In my work as a hospice chaplain, I often witnessed the irresistible urge people have to tie up loose ends as death approaches—to leave their checkbook balanced, to make their funeral arrangements, to finally confess to something that has been on their conscience, to make reconciliation with a friend or a loved one. The urge to complete unfinished business, to tie up loose ends, is one of the strongest forces in nature, and God help anyone who stands in its way.
