C.S. Lewis
In grief
nothing ‘stays put.’
One
keeps
emerging
from a phase,
but
it always
recurs.
Round and round.
Everything repeats.
Am I
going in circles,
or
dare
I hope
I am
on a
spiral?
But
if a spiral,
am I
going
up
or
down it?
SHOCK
Life and. . .
Loss
of a loved one,
a family member,
is a stark
reality
of life.
There is
no way out.
Anticipating
a loved one’s death
offers no
preparation.
Expectation,
no matter
how long,
does not
offer
a roadmap.
Once the rituals
whatever they are
have ended,
each of us
are
on our own.
Friends may console,
prayers said,
but in each moment
reminders
present
the harshness
of raw
physical,
emotional,
spiritual
change.
When
tears wet
my eyes
or sobs
move my
body,
it is a relief.
Pent-up
emotions
erupt
on grief’s
own schedule.
There is no
measurement
of the tears, the sadness.
The shadows
linger.
“Are you over it yet?”
a friend was asked
six weeks after her husband died.
There should be
no expectation
or impatience
with someone’s
time of
mourning.
There may be
stages,
but each person
marks their own.
There may be
light
with the shadows.
Sometimes.
A smell,
a glimpse
of someone who
reminds of
the loved one.
The depth and length
of grief
may
reflect the
intensity
of love
between
the
one
who has died
and those
left to mourn.
Life
Death.
Kindness.
Please.
Our Best Selves
Pictures remind
Easter finery.
New bonnet,
Spring coat, perhaps
passed down
through
sisters and cousin.
New dress,
polished shoes
or new
patent leather!
Small flower corsage
from Daddy.
Some may still
dress this way
for Easter services,
I may admit to
a little envy.
We looked our best
or so it seemed.
The best outside dress-up
cannot cover up
the violence of
terror or the
insulting language
in the political campaign.
Steady reams of
news
proclaim
more crucifixion
than resurrection.
There are many
moments
of love and caring,
even random
acts of kindness.
What will it take
to dress up
ourselves,
our families and friends,
our neighborhoods
and our world
with sincere conversion
from the inside out.
Real love and kindness
generate
warmth and smiles.
How can we
dress
ourselves
with the
realization
that
we are all
in this world together?
Respect
for
each and every other,
dressed in finery
or clothes unfamiliar.
Garments given away
clothe
those without anything.
Respect
is the best
place
to begin.
We all
can dress ourselves best
caring for
each other.
Amen.
Be Prepared?
Heavy snow forecast,
stores not prepared
with enough
milk, bread, eggs
for each buyer
trying to
be prepared.
Few lingering items.
Schools closed tomorrow.
Warnings change
by the hours.
Course of storm
uncertain.
Shovel,boots, salt
prepared
as well as you can.
Same news hour
predicts
earthquake
in northern Pacific Coast
at least
a hundred years
overdue.
Tsunami would follow.
Buildings too low.
Higher floors
being built over school.
Drills for children and teachers
at first rumble
to climb as high
as stairs go.
No time
to rush out
for milk, bread, eggs.
Are you prepared?
For which possibility?
In life,
are we ever
really
prepared
for what
actually does happen?
Limits
We all need
to learn to
set limits.
Do you live in an
unnaturally
high setting
for normal?
Are you
expecting
too much of
yourself and others?
When is life or
our response to it,
just too much
or just enough?
Can you build in some
flexibility?
What if our lives are
right on
the edge,
and we don’t see
the precipice?
livinglinesreflections.com gift a book
Inside Out, Outside In
We may judge
others’
outsides
from our own
insides.
Do we look
at others
as calm,
in control,
on top of things?
For many people,
it takes
a lot of
effort
to put
themselves
together.
What you see
is the result
of that effort,
not
the challenge
of
getting there.
When I have been
more willing
to reveal
some of my
inner feelings,
the
result can be
closer
relationships.
Shadow Work
Trying to restore
our emotional health
can be exhausting,
particularly if
we have neglected it.
No wonder
people
sometimes choose
to numb
their pain.
It takes courage and energy
to dig deep
and let emotional
wounds heal.
We can heal
only if we know
what the wounds are.
Our bodies hold onto
emotional hurts,
sometimes for years.
There are many ways
to help
the healing process-
prayer,
meditation,
silence,
yoga,
reiki,
and therapy-
that
strengthens the body
along with the soul.
Some call this SHADOW WORK.
LivingLinesReflections
Lock Down
Remembering
being
in New York City
on 9/11
where for more than 24 hours,
the bridges and tunnels
shut traffic going
in and out
of Manhattan Island.
Remembering
during
the week
of the
Boston Marathon
being
“locked down”
at home
for 14 hours,
Hearing France’s borders
being closed
after the
horrific attacks
in Paris,
emotions
cascade.
Fear,
horror,
and
kindness.
Think
of
those who
didn’t run away
but went toward
the wounded
to help.
Flowers, candles
become altars
to express
sorrow
and
community.
We
know
even more clearly now,
we are all
in this together.
Locking down our feelings
doesn’t work
for us.
We are connected
in our humanity.
Near and far
reach out.
Social media
has its place.
We need physical
connection.
Reaching out
in the darkness
helps
to heal
wounds that
don’t go away.
Living Lines Moment by Moment 