by Michelle Herberger
Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light,
so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest to all of us.
Meister Eckhart
March signals the beginning of Spring, a time of rebirth and new beginnings. However, for those who are grieving, new life can seem unreachable, even impossible.
Perhaps the grief is around the death of a loved one or the death of a marriage. The more one is invested in or committed to someone or something, the greater the experience of loss. The grief that comes from loss can feel all consuming.
The tendency in our culture is to eliminate that pain or transcend it or as some would say, “get over it.” The truth is, there is no getting over grief. The good news, or “real truth” is, you can get through it. And, while you are going through it, you must allow yourself to experience and express the grief. It is in the process of going through it with open eyes and open heart, that one can eventually reconcile to it. Although the feelings of loss will not completely go away, there emerges a hope for continued life whereby one can experience a renewed sense of meaning and purpose to life.
The movement from the intensity of grief to an experience of new life, Paschal Mystery, is one in which our faith is rooted. Through Jesus, death no longer has the final word. In fact, it is through death that we come to new life, both here and in eternity.
For help in starting a grief support group or for a list of resources, please contact Michelle Herberger at the Family Ministries Office.
