Beautifully said, Ishmael. Grief and loss are so heavy and shape us in ways we might never have chosen for ourselves, and yet there is no way out but through.
THIS..."So hold your grief like a sacred flame. Like a flame, it hurts, it burns, and it can consume. But also like a flame, it can give light in the darkness, and hope to the world."
Beautifully written and profoundly true, Ishmael. C.S. Lewis wrote: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.” Grief is the evidence that there was once someone who brought light into our lives, a light so precious we couldn't imagine giving it up. A light that went out and is now simply a memory. Thank you.
Very thoughtful piece. I allowed my grief flame to consume me year af t er year for decades. Grief wasn't one of those life experiences I was walked through as I grew up. Ill be 50 this year and when people start dying in my world I grab a tight hold to the "Oh Shit Bar". Why? This generally sends shockwaves through my circles. From 99-2002, 36 people (maybe more). 2021-2023, 17 people. My "griever" is broken.
"Grief wasn't one of those life experiences I was walked through as I grew up.' So true...and yet we modelled how to traverse it, from what we did and didn't see.
Beautifully said, Ishmael. Grief and loss are so heavy and shape us in ways we might never have chosen for ourselves, and yet there is no way out but through.
THIS..."So hold your grief like a sacred flame. Like a flame, it hurts, it burns, and it can consume. But also like a flame, it can give light in the darkness, and hope to the world."
Beautifully written and profoundly true, Ishmael. C.S. Lewis wrote: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.” Grief is the evidence that there was once someone who brought light into our lives, a light so precious we couldn't imagine giving it up. A light that went out and is now simply a memory. Thank you.
I’m glad you found value in it, thank you my friend!
Very thoughtful piece. I allowed my grief flame to consume me year af t er year for decades. Grief wasn't one of those life experiences I was walked through as I grew up. Ill be 50 this year and when people start dying in my world I grab a tight hold to the "Oh Shit Bar". Why? This generally sends shockwaves through my circles. From 99-2002, 36 people (maybe more). 2021-2023, 17 people. My "griever" is broken.
"Grief wasn't one of those life experiences I was walked through as I grew up.' So true...and yet we modelled how to traverse it, from what we did and didn't see.
Ive had to extinguish mine in an effort to not continuously re-traumatize myself year after year when deathaverssaries passed.
You might consider collaborating with Debra King. She did a major piece on grief recently.
Indeed. C.S. Lewis said grief feels so much like the physiological experience of fear, and I agree with that. thannks for sharing.
This is so beautifully written.
Excellent post. You nailed it on the head when you said the alternative to grief is to be alone.
Being alone is a scary thought. I’ll take the grief.