To set sail

As a chaplain, I have noticed that older patients are often far more worried about the spiritual health of their adult children than they are about their own physical health.  To a believer, it can be far easier to accept approaching death if one knows that they are right with God.  In Paul's letter to the believers in Philippi, he says that he has trouble deciding between remaining on Earth and serving God's people or "departing" and being with God.  The word he uses, depart, is "analysai", in Greek, and it was used to refer to a boat being released from the dock and setting sail.  We look at the duality of serving other believers while we are alive and knowing that one day we, too will be released to set sail.