Grief

Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Do Not Despise Death

I received word that one of my advisees has died of a cardiac incident while on a run with his wife. He was two years younger than me. He finished the last course of his program in December and was set to graduate with a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies this coming May.

As our thoughts and prayers are with his family, let us not miss the opportunity to reflect and perhaps even prepare for our own passing by recognizing that, in the brevity of life, we must complete what is important. Let us waste no time entertaining ourselves to death but love fiercely, work well, and leaving as little as possible undone.

"Do not despise death, but be well content with it, since this too is one of those things which nature wills. For such as it is to be young and to grow old, and to increase and to reach maturity, and to have teeth and beard and grey hairs, and to beget, and to be pregnant and to bring forth, and all the other natural operations which the seasons of your life bring, such also is dissolution. This, then, is consistent with the character of a reflecting man, to be neither careless nor impatient nor contemptuous with respect to death, but to wait for it as one of the operations of nature. As you now wait for the time when the child shall come out of your wife's womb, so be ready for the time when your soul shall fall out of this envelope. But if you require also a vulgar kind of comfort which shall reach your heart, you will be made best reconciled to death by observing the objects from which you are going to be removed, and the morals of those with whom your soul will no longer be mingled."

--Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 9

I'd rather "fall out of this envelope" while on a run or a hike.
I hope I don't die indoors.
I'd rather die living the greatest adventure--living.

Further reading (take you less than 5 minutes): Seneca, "On Meeting Death Cheerfully"



"Let us think of that today and tomorrow and every day. That no matter what happens, no matter where life takes us, as we do our duties and bear our responsibilities, let us strive to do them in such a way that lets us honestly say, 'This was my finest hour.' Because you never know how many you have left. So you might as well make this your best." (Ryan Holiday)

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