Comments on: Perilous Dark Path of True Prayer http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/ Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:24:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ache and Delight | Abbey of the Arts http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6611 Ache and Delight | Abbey of the Arts Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:49:07 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6611 [...] week before last was the fourth anniversary of my mother’s death and I shared here before that I have been feeling called to walk willingly into some dark places.   [...] [...] week before last was the fourth anniversary of my mother’s death and I shared here before that I have been feeling called to walk willingly into some dark places.   [...]

]]> By: Resting and sleeping ~ there’s room for us all « Back Road Journey http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6415 Resting and sleeping ~ there’s room for us all « Back Road Journey Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:21:44 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6415 [...] Christine has been inviting us to lean into the darkness and unknown, Lucy writes of unresolved grief, and [...] [...] Christine has been inviting us to lean into the darkness and unknown, Lucy writes of unresolved grief, and [...]

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6167 Christine Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:08:23 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6167 Wow, I am blessed with such beautiful readers. Thanks for the poem Pam, it moved me deeply. Tess and yolanda, I appreciate your presence and thoughts. eileen, thank you for sharing a piece of your own journey. I will hold all of the comments above close to my heart. Wow, I am blessed with such beautiful readers.

Thanks for the poem Pam, it moved me deeply. Tess and yolanda, I appreciate your presence and thoughts. eileen, thank you for sharing a piece of your own journey.

I will hold all of the comments above close to my heart.

]]> By: eileen (the dream) http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6163 eileen (the dream) Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:36:01 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6163 Christine- Both you and your mother will be in my prayers on Friday. How wonderful that you were with her for her final five days. The most intimate times of life (aside from the obvious) are to be present at a child's birth and present for a person's death. I am definitely into moving forward, and am grateful to have realized many truths because of grief. You are absolutely right - especially with the early life losses, they set the stage of my personality in many ways. I have finished my letters for this year and I feel much relief. There are things I have always wanted to communicate and felt ridiculous doing so ... or that it would be just TOO sad. All in all, this has been another blessing. It was fulfilling to put it down in black on white. One thing that I have known for some time is that I have had a devotion to The Blessed Mother for most of my life ... and that was one of the gifts I received from my grief. Christine-
Both you and your mother will be in my prayers on Friday. How wonderful that you were with her for her final five days. The most intimate times of life (aside from the obvious) are to be present at a child’s birth and present for a person’s death.
I am definitely into moving forward, and am grateful to have realized many truths because of grief. You are absolutely right – especially with the early life losses, they set the stage of my personality in many ways. I have finished my letters for this year and I feel much relief. There are things I have always wanted to communicate and felt ridiculous doing so … or that it would be just TOO sad. All in all, this has been another blessing. It was fulfilling to put it down in black on white. One thing that I have known for some time is that I have had a devotion to The Blessed Mother for most of my life … and that was one of the gifts I received from my grief.

]]> By: Pam http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6162 Pam Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:34:32 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6162 One more comment, that is really a suggestion. I have found it very satisfying to plant something on the day of my mother's death, in remembrance. Although most people don't think of this as a time of year for planting, the process of putting a few bulbs in the ground that will gloriously bloom later could have a lot of meaning. You could pick a few that were her favorites or ones that express a message to her. One more comment, that is really a suggestion. I have found it very satisfying to plant something on the day of my mother’s death, in remembrance. Although most people don’t think of this as a time of year for planting, the process of putting a few bulbs in the ground that will gloriously bloom later could have a lot of meaning. You could pick a few that were her favorites or ones that express a message to her.

]]> By: yolanda http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6159 yolanda Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:06:57 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6159 This post really touched me. I have lost both my parents so I can empathize with you and your journey. This post really touched me. I have lost both my parents so I can empathize with you and your journey.

]]> By: Tess http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6158 Tess Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:45:46 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6158 Richard Rohr used to teach the Enneagram and wrote (in my opinion) two of the most lyrical early Enneagram books. He's since moved on to other paths, but I see he has lost none of his lyricism or transformative energy. I need to hear what you say about staying in the descent. For long enough. Will be praying for you tomorrow my friend. Richard Rohr used to teach the Enneagram and wrote (in my opinion) two of the most lyrical early Enneagram books. He’s since moved on to other paths, but I see he has lost none of his lyricism or transformative energy.

I need to hear what you say about staying in the descent. For long enough.

Will be praying for you tomorrow my friend.

]]> By: Pam http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6154 Pam Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:18:04 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6154 Christine, I know that there are many good poems out their on grief, but I thought I'd send you mine (if I haven't already). It was written about five years after my mother died, so it is a testament to how the waves continue to ebb and flow throughout our lives. And, it fits in with your life by the sea. Waves of grief begin like a tsunami, Sweeping you out to sea, no ground to stand on, tumbling and tossing you, Wrenching you from all that is familiar until you feel that you may drown. But you are thrown to shore where you can lift your head and breathe before the next wave hits. The waves keep returning, like the rhythms of birth as you struggle to find a new life for yourself. In time, you can stand again and open your eyes. But waves still can hit at any unexpected moment with an intensity unimagined. But they also recede. God gives us these respites from pain so we can find our way further up the beach Where we can watch the waves and once again appreciate the landscape, even without the one we love. Christine,

I know that there are many good poems out their on grief, but I thought I’d send you mine (if I haven’t already). It was written about five years after my mother died, so it is a testament to how the waves continue to ebb and flow throughout our lives. And, it fits in with your life by the sea.

Waves of grief
begin like a tsunami,

Sweeping you out to sea,
no ground to stand on,
tumbling and tossing you,

Wrenching you from
all that is familiar
until you feel that you may drown.

But you are thrown to shore
where you can lift your head and breathe
before the next wave hits.

The waves keep returning,
like the rhythms of birth
as you struggle to find a new life for yourself.

In time, you can stand again
and open your eyes.

But waves still can hit
at any unexpected moment
with an intensity unimagined.

But they also recede.
God gives us these respites from pain
so we can find our way
further up the beach

Where we can watch the waves
and once again
appreciate the landscape,
even without the one we love.

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6150 Christine Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:21:10 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6150 Suz, Sue, and Kathy, I am so grateful for each of your very thoughtful and meaningful comments. Thank you for being wise and wonderful women and for offering your comfort. Suz, Sue, and Kathy, I am so grateful for each of your very thoughtful and meaningful comments. Thank you for being wise and wonderful women and for offering your comfort.

]]> By: Kathy Flugel Stone http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/comment-page-1/#comment-6145 Kathy Flugel Stone Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:39:17 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/10/17/perilous-dark-path-of-true-prayer/#comment-6145 Christine, I'll be thinking of you...losing someone you love is never easy, but especially your mom. I agree with you; grief is not something we do well in our culture. There is something to be said for going to the wailing wall, pouring our grief forth as it arises in us--honoring what it is we're feeling. I remember hearing about Leo Buscaglia asking children what their definition of love was. One little boy said, "Love is when my grandpa lets me crawl up in his lap and helps me to cry." May you be held this Friday. Blessings on your journey~Kathy Christine,

I’ll be thinking of you…losing someone you love is never easy, but especially your mom. I agree with you; grief is not something we do well in our culture. There is something to be said for going to the wailing wall, pouring our grief forth as it arises in us–honoring what it is we’re feeling. I remember hearing about Leo Buscaglia asking children what their definition of love was. One little boy said, “Love is when my grandpa lets me crawl up in his lap and helps me to cry.” May you be held this Friday.

Blessings on your journey~Kathy

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