Loss

— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —

I lost my glove.  I lost my cat.  I lost my job.  I lost all hope. I lost my best friend.  There is nothing positive, nothing pretty, about this word.  It’s not something we wish for.  Loss signifies vacuum, emptiness.  A state that we do not want to experience.  Loss is such a part of life, but never welcome.

The modern word loss encompasses various forms of deprivation: physical (losing objects), material (financial loss), emotional (losing a loved one), intangible (losing reputation or trust), and opportunity loss (missing potential benefits). Its etymology reflects the universal human experience of being deprived of something valuable, a concept that has persisted across languages and cultures throughout history.

etymologyworld.com

Getting older, I am experiencing loss more often.  Loss of certain capabilities, loss of future perspectives. But most significantly, loss of loved ones. I recently lost, unexpectedly, a very close friend. Someone I saw several times a week.  Someone whose life was a part of mine, of my routine.  How to fill the hole?  How to ease the pain? 

I turned to the Bible, for inspiration in dealing with loss.  And I confess here that much of what I read did not help me…immediately.  I trust in God’s grace, that He is walking alongside me…and yet the pain persists.  Loss is still there, still gapping. 

Then I read “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

“During times of loss, having a supportive community around us is vital. We were not meant to go through struggles alone, and it’s essential to lean on friends, family, and even church communities to walk alongside us in our grief. Sharing our feelings, memories, and stories helps in healing and allows us to experience God’s love through others. The Bible encourages us to bear one another’s burdens, and in doing so, we find solace together. We can turn to one another in love and compassion, supporting each other on this journey of dealing with loss.”

In Jewish tradition, one “sits Shiva.”  For seven days after the individual has been buried, friends and family sit and speak of the person.  A wonderful therapeutic practice. 

And so I spoke to others – and invited them to speak to me – of their loss.  We had a gathering to share stories, pictures, anecdotes.  And in that gathering, my friend was there…and so too was God.  Healing us, assuring us it would be all right.  That her brightness, although no longer among us, was elsewhere, still shining.

No, there is nothing positive about the word, “loss”.  Or is there?  Coming together, supporting one another and giving ourselves space to remember our friend, that too is a blessing. 

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The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.

Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.

We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.

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