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...

“People of the Abyss” by Jack London

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 After binge watching every episode of “Call The Midwife” on Netflix, I remembered a book by Jack London that I read in high school. I feel a bit foolish taking so long to remember it, but I’m very glad I did. I found a copy in the public domain by going to Amazon and then searched the book by title + “free kindle.” 

For many people, just hearing the name Jack London invokes images of his two most well-known stories “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang.” The Cohen brothers did an excellent job capturing his short story, “Valley of Gold,” in the anthology film “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” It’s too bad that works such as this one have fallen by the wayside.


Though the events of the Jack London’s experience take place 50 years before the TV show, it is been the most educational in getting the full context of what it was like to live in the East End of London. By the end of the seventh chapter, the author has found his way to Poplar, of all places!


It is not a difficult or complicated read and perhaps could be considered more like a longer essay; nevertheless, this book contributes not only to literature but also to provides unique cultural insight. And if you watch the TV show “Call The Midwife” then you might appreciate it more after reading this.

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