Grief

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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...

malis mala succedunt

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"troubles are followed by troubles."

In Japanese, they say, “when crying, stung by bee.” The point of these expressions is to capture an unfortunate reality of life: that what can go wrong will… and often all at the same time.

So during this COVID-19 quarantine, things are just that. 
  • I've lost my job after 19 years
  • I am no longer a doctoral student.
  • The State has removed our niece from our home after yet another suicide attempt and has put us in a horrible position. Good thing we have friends and documentation of her history.
  • Stay-at-home orders are in effect.
We can't control the storm but we can control how we respond to it. 
Yes, I mourn a little every day, but only when I'm not busy and start dwelling on what I can't control or change.
  • God has me in a place where I have nothing or nobody to depend on but Him.
  • I can now update my resume and my office is clean.
  • I know who my real friends are (trouble has a way of sifting people).
  • My wife can still finish her degree online.
  • Niece is now getting the help we've been trying to get for months and months and months. 
"If you’re only prepared for a few, isolated and tiny things to go wrong, you’re going to be rudely surprised by how often difficulties come in pairs or triplets or entire litters. If you think life is going to be one lucky break after another, you’re going to be rudely surprised when, to quote Seneca, fortune decides to behave exactly as she pleases." (Ryan Holiday)

Disarm trouble by preparing your mind beforehand so when it comes, you are ready. Just don't make it worse by doing something stupid.

The world is a different place.

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