Tag: grief

While we may know intellectually that all things are impermanent and that every living being dies, most of us are shocked and anguished when the inevitable comes to pass.

I thought I’d tell you about my 15 years as a religion reporter and why I chose this peculiar and remarkable path. And I will, eventually. But on Aug. 28 my grandma died. And now my mind is drowning in grief and angst.

Years ago I heard a quote that has always stuck with me: “Americans are the only people on earth stupid enough to believe we should be happy all the time.”

“I have a totally random question,” said the young man. “I grew up in this house. And I’m wondering if I could come in and see inside?”

I know a young couple who recently lost a child through a miscarriage. It was very sad, even heartbreaking. And yet, I didn’t write a note, or make a call, or stop by their home. I felt awkward and I was silent.

Grief comes to the mind because we mistakenly grasp at things as permanent, not as how they actually exist, which is fleeting and transitory.

Because our culture denies grief — and because it denies the things which precipitate grief, most especially death — there is something profoundly freeing about escaping the denial, at least for an hour or two.