The title of this book comes from a poem of the same name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It describes his wish for a good death and hope for life after life. It is a happy poem. The first verse says, "Sunset and evening star/ And one clear call for me / And may there be no moaning of the bar, / When I put out to sea." It describes the end of life as a final voyage into a distant land. I put these meditations together for those who are now facing death. My hope is that, as you experience the emotional process of moving towards your own voyage, you can find some solace in these words.

As many face the end of life, they often find their emotional experiences difficult to discuss with friends and family. My hope here is that, in these short meditations, you can find a friend with whom to share your joys and pains.

The subtitle of this book is "A Fortnight of Meditations." A fortnight is fourteen days, or two weeks. I read a good deal of British literature, and the idea of fourteen days has struck me over the years. It is not quite a month, but more than a week. It is like a holiday. My hope is that this book will be just enough, but not too much right now, as you may be struggling with many physical challenges.

The illustrations in this book are taken from quick sketches made with whatever I had in hand at the time. For me, they express the immediacy of what you may be experiencing right now. May they be a blessing to you.