browsing >> grief

fasting and faith

Posted by winn collier on February 5th, 2012 | 8 responses
When Gandhi wanted to capture the attention of the powerful and prompt them to act against injustice, he went on a hunger strike. A number of years ago when I was confused and heartbroken, I began a 3-day fast. We are... read more »

you choose Q: “is cremation OK?”

Posted by an odj community member on January 27th, 2012 | 2 responses
Q: We’ve been considering cremation. We thought it would be good stewardship of our finances (in that it would be much less expensive than a burial) and that our remains would be in a place with other... read more »

the dead man

Posted by winn collier on December 13th, 2011 | one response
Thomas Lynch is an acclaimed poet and nonfiction writer who has won the American Book Award. He’s also an undertaker. In The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, Lynch shares stories from his decades of helping... read more »

Christmas accusation

Posted by tim gustafson on December 2nd, 2011 | 6 responses
Few things seem more out of place than the appalling account of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16). Why would a loving God permit a tyrant’s massacre of children to stain the beauty and poignancy of the... read more »

scars

Posted by an odj community member on November 16th, 2011 | no responses
Three years ago, this month, marked what we see now as the beginning of the end for my almost-4-year-old son Braeden’s battle with cancer. It has been over two and a half years now since he died. In that time I’ve... read more »

death-defining moments

Posted by K. T. Sim on November 9th, 2011 | 7 responses
You guys, line up alphabetically by height.” Huh? “We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” What? These are two of many other bizarre quotes I came across recently. Solomon said some pretty odd and... read more »

i want to live

Posted by roxanne robbins on October 15th, 2011 | 2 responses
My 6-year-old son, Wasswa, was outside riding his bicycle. I was in the kitchen when he came running to me with a cut under his left eye. As blood oozed, my frightened child cried out, “I want to live! I want to live! I... read more »

improving your eyesight

Posted by an odj community member on October 3rd, 2011 | no responses
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up.  —H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Waste not fresh tears over old griefs. Waste not time on matters that are out of your hands. Have faith that we have a loving God who will... read more »

too great for words

Posted by jennifer benson schuldt on September 30th, 2011 | 5 responses
The pot roast was still steaming in the pan as I arranged carrots, onions, and potatoes around its perimeter and then ladled broth over the whole creation. I nestled it into a basket along with some bread, fruit salad, and... read more »

even better

Posted by K. T. Sim on August 17th, 2011 | 7 responses
The text message from my brother was terse: “Dad just passed away. Come to ward now.” My 84-year-old father had vacillated between life and death for 2 months. He finally took his final breath. Dad had lost his battle... read more »
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