Sorrow

Tonight is a funeral for a 29 year old man who died in a car crash.  He leaves behind and infant son who will, of course, never know him.

One of the (many) things they never told me in Seminary (priest school, if you will) is that there is a cumulative weight that one carries from all the funerals he or she has done over the years.  It is not littleness of faith, but that all the grief and sorrow one is asked to bear begins to add up.

I’m not feeling sorry for myself, or asking you to feel sorry for me.  It is part of what I believe I have to offer the world, and though perhaps more difficult than I once would have thought, it remains a great privilege nonetheless.

Comments

[coral]

The same reason I never became a psychologist - I don't think I could bear the bad secrets people hold in their heads. It would affrct me too deeply and fracture my soul eventually. And then I would need a psychologist!

At this stage of my life I realise people are sad when other's die because of the lost future they imagine they would have had. It isn't real sadness for the person who died, it is a sadness for themselves. Pretty selfish reasons really.

"All unhappiness is caused by attachment" - Buddah. Very deep, and very true!

[David]

Rob
I know EXACTLY what you mean....
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, is the one year anniversary of the death of the Rev. Larry Motz, seminary classmate and all around wonderful guy.
A month later my beloved Aunt died, followed by another dear friend of ours.
It's been that kind of year....
You are in my prayers, these are the hard ones.

[mindy]

Rob,

I'm glad your church has you for a priest. God bless you in this week, and bring joy in Easter (in spite of the burdens)
And when you have time, have you read any of the Father Brown mysteries? I'm appreciating his (Chesterton's, through the good priest) clarity of thought.