Thank you. As we grieve collectively it's seems so overwhelming. Your words help me to begin to understand why; why I sometimes feel like I’ve lost my compassion for others; why I’m not receptive to those wanting to be compassionate to me. Nothing feels real or authentic. Over my life the song “Here I Am Lord” has resonated so strongly. But lately, I feel that my heart is broken and unable to hold anyone. You help me to realize that we are all there. I will try to stay in the moment, one day, hour or minute at a time. Thank you.
Thank you! So true - there's too much sad to process at once, too much anger and disappointment. I will breathe, pray, and extend compassion to my self as I would to a fellow traveler.
Gorgeous assembly of saints it lifts me up to hear their grace. You know Nadia, maybe all this grief is softening. We are gentler with ourselves and others. We have more in common than we knew. We learned who was essential in our lives and what we still want back now. Gently. Walking forward. Take the dog too. One day at a time.
Thank you. Your words have helped me visualize my grief and to lighten the burden grief brings. After reading today's message I no longer feel I am by myself in coming to terms with suffering and loss.
I think I prefer collective grieving. Before the pandemic there was only a small group of people I’d talk to about any suffering I was going through, but the pandemic opened things up a lot since it’s our wounds that connect us. My perception could be off, but I just sensed this enormous increase in people’s ability to empathize with the suffering of others. I think the media really sent a different message, a warped one, highlighting our divisions when we’ve never been so connected in our humanity.
I love that Atlantic article. I had a friend die in a house fire several years ago and it knocked me to the ground emotionally. Bereavement leave is for family only, so I had to go through the motions and pretend to be normal for a very long time, which was incredibly hard and so unhealthy. And even if I could have used bereavement leave to mourn my friend, bereavement leave doesn’t allow time to process through much more than a very distant relative’s passing. I wish we all had guaranteed sabbaticals every so many years for a couple months that allowed us to go do something like hike the Camino de Santiago, (Nadia, please write more about that...I’m really interested!) or similar things that are longer, restorative, retreat-like experiences. 🙏🏻
Nadia, thank you for your ministry. I cannot articulate the thoughts in my heart and mind, so I wanted to share the verse that started the wheels turning after I read your words.
Romans 8:26 “in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Thank you. As we grieve collectively it's seems so overwhelming. Your words help me to begin to understand why; why I sometimes feel like I’ve lost my compassion for others; why I’m not receptive to those wanting to be compassionate to me. Nothing feels real or authentic. Over my life the song “Here I Am Lord” has resonated so strongly. But lately, I feel that my heart is broken and unable to hold anyone. You help me to realize that we are all there. I will try to stay in the moment, one day, hour or minute at a time. Thank you.
Be like the friends of Job:
They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
Job 2:13
Thank you! So true - there's too much sad to process at once, too much anger and disappointment. I will breathe, pray, and extend compassion to my self as I would to a fellow traveler.
Gorgeous assembly of saints it lifts me up to hear their grace. You know Nadia, maybe all this grief is softening. We are gentler with ourselves and others. We have more in common than we knew. We learned who was essential in our lives and what we still want back now. Gently. Walking forward. Take the dog too. One day at a time.
Thank you. Your words have helped me visualize my grief and to lighten the burden grief brings. After reading today's message I no longer feel I am by myself in coming to terms with suffering and loss.
It's so true. Thanks for sharing the poem and prayet!
I think I prefer collective grieving. Before the pandemic there was only a small group of people I’d talk to about any suffering I was going through, but the pandemic opened things up a lot since it’s our wounds that connect us. My perception could be off, but I just sensed this enormous increase in people’s ability to empathize with the suffering of others. I think the media really sent a different message, a warped one, highlighting our divisions when we’ve never been so connected in our humanity.
I love that Atlantic article. I had a friend die in a house fire several years ago and it knocked me to the ground emotionally. Bereavement leave is for family only, so I had to go through the motions and pretend to be normal for a very long time, which was incredibly hard and so unhealthy. And even if I could have used bereavement leave to mourn my friend, bereavement leave doesn’t allow time to process through much more than a very distant relative’s passing. I wish we all had guaranteed sabbaticals every so many years for a couple months that allowed us to go do something like hike the Camino de Santiago, (Nadia, please write more about that...I’m really interested!) or similar things that are longer, restorative, retreat-like experiences. 🙏🏻
Pray with your ears. Especially in the silences.
fuck it. Just fuck it.
Yes, it is enough. Let yourself believe that.
dammit Nadia, there's something in my eye! I would wear that shirt: I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for the Litany of Saints. So beautiful.
Thank you for this. Exactly this is so needed.
Nadia, thank you for your ministry. I cannot articulate the thoughts in my heart and mind, so I wanted to share the verse that started the wheels turning after I read your words.
Romans 8:26 “in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”