Inspired by Scholastica

Learning from Grief

When I read the news headlines today (and most days), I felt overwhelmed with sadness. Most of the news was about shootings, injustices, tragedies, and murders. I wanted to ignore the grief, to put it out of my mind.  But Richard Rohr, a Catholic author, says we need to feel the grief because it has a lot to teach us.

It seems the writers of the Psalms knew this. Of the 150 psalms, a third are about grief.  The psalmists grieved being overcome by enemies, losing loved ones, leaving their land, suffering illness, and more. The psalms of lament teach us that there is value in God-oriented exasperation. The psalmists always seemed to know God was with them and would help them survive.

Our tears and sorrow are signs of our humanity. Lament is a very deeply spiritual practice. It is important to take time to grieve and to heal from our losses. One author called lament a ritual of cleansing and preparation for what is yet to come.

With the passage of time, we can learn to move beyond our sorrow and discover joy again. It is essential to regain our happiness in living. We often do this through nature, loving relationships, time away, hobbies, music and other uplifting experiences. We also have the power to help others find joy with our smiles, our encouragement, and our loving care.

So lamenting is good for the soul. It stretches us to embrace the fullness of life and to know there is more to come.

Barbara Mayer, OSB

 

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