There are several recorded incidents where Jesus withdrew seeking solitude and solace.
One of them is upon hearing of John’s beheading at the hands of Herod.
If we accept that our Shepherd was a perfect model in all things (and I do!) then this is a model for dealing with sorrow and loss.
There have been specific individuals instructed by the Lord to ignore mourning (always for a prophetic purpose) but the general pattern in Scripture is to make room for the necessary work of processing grief.
So today’s fast is speeding past sorrow.
So often those of us who have wounded hearts are pushed by ourselves, by friends and family, and by a “look on the bright side” society to rush past our sorrow and sadness. But that is not only futile, it’s unhealthy.
While time, by itself, does not heal all wounds. Time is a necessary component of healing.
As much as we might wish it otherwise, there is no speedy way to wrap up the bits of a broken heart. Speeding past sorrow only means it festers, not that it is magically erased or truly forgotten.
It has been brutal, time-consuming and energy-intensive to force my heart to sit with the sorrow of Dominic’s death.
But every moment and every effort has borne fruit.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12: 24)
In many ways active grieving is it’s own kind of death and that may be why we often run from it.
Bring to mind the names and faces of loved ones who have died. What deposits did they make in your life? How did you feel when you first learned of their deaths?…Today, honor the losses in your life. Instead of speeding past sadness, slow down and be present to your emotions. With Jesus, sit with your sorrow and let loss do its eternal work in your soul.
Alicia Britt Chole
Some of us are very vocal with our grief and some suffer in silence.
Either is perfectly normal.
The important thing is to face it.
**As promised, I am sharing thoughts on 40 DAYS OF DECREASE (a Lenten journal/devotional). If you choose to get and use the book yourself, I’ll be a day behind in sharing so as not to influence anyone else’s experience.**
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