grieving

my mobile rang this afternoon and a crying voice said to me "Dad another classmate is dead" another young life has ended, tragically.

when a young life is ended, it is tragic no matter the circumstances.

what does one do? what does one say? how does one respond? how do we react to the sadness that exists among family and friends when there has been a loss?

we grieve

experts tell us there are stages to grief:
- denial
- anger
- bargaining
- depression
- acceptance

so we look to experts and hear that we can expect to go through some of these stages when we suffer loss. But to help us get through these stages, we must look for help.

I remember when my school lost two grads in two weeks. There were home visits to make, funerals to attend and participate in, people to talk to. Often, the visits consisted of only being present. The presence of loving people does a lot to help in times of hurt and need. There are gestures, words, our simple presence, all of which intended to bringing comfort…

Hear some words of comfort…

Don’t let your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe in me as well. My Father's house has so many rooms for us: if these places were not there, I would have told you. In fact, I’m going there to prepare a place for you. Since I’m going there to prepare this place for you, I will come back, to take you with me so that you may be with me. And you know where I go and the way there… Thomas said, Lord, we don’t where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus said to him:

“I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but with me.”

I remind myself, that all I can do is to bring the truth. I am just very glad that this person knew the truth… “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” Know the way… Jesus, he is the way. For me there can be nothing more soothing… I was playing my guitar and singing and these words really spoke to me in this moment of need, listen to these words of hope…

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
(“All Who are Thirsty” by Brenton Brown and Glenn Robertson)