A member of the congregation I serve died a couple of weeks ago. It was awful. Many of the networks of people and many of the feelings surrounding their untimely death has left the congregation, their friends, and me very unsettled. They’re’s grief, confusion, anger, exhaustion, anxiety, and a whole lot of really unknown feelings.
It doesn’t feel like a “looking forward in hope” or “God will be what the future requires” or “love wins” kind of time.
And there’s such a heaviness with the person’s death on top of Coronivirus, disasters, racism, hatred, power-grabbing, sexism, and a disdain for anything good.
Maybe I’m going too far. But all in all — there’s a whole lot of “suck” going on. Energy suck. Hope suck. It all sucks.
🙂
So. Where is there hope in all of it? Does there have to be? Maybe instead of trying to find hope or relief it’s OK to sit with the suck.
And maybe play some music. At least that’s what I do — my guitar brings much appreciated calming on the worst of days. It’s ok to feel the feelings, process them, and not be afraid to let them exist.
While you sit with the suck, what ways bring appreciated calming to your mind, body, and soul?
Kirk Moore is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He's been a member of the Mental Health Network Board and is also a therapeutic musician, playing music at the bedside for patients - to help bring about the relaxation response to help healing. Find out more at therapeuticmusic.org