Three Thing about Grief
Rev. Ted Tollefson
©June 22, 2008 @ UU Society of River Falls

First: in the field of grief  we are not in charge.
Grief happens to us
it is more like turbulent weather than conscious thinking.
How many of us in recent days
have been  visited by storms of sadness and remorse,
wishful thinking and bargaining
relief and anger,
waking dreams, old wounds
guilt and good will?
We can no sooner change the cycles of grief
than we can change today's weather.
Our task is to be present
as we are able
and let the seasons of grief guide  us
to a deeper understanding
of our selves and one another

Second: grief reminds us  how  fragile and precious our lives are---
we are like fireflies flashing on and off
in a mid-summer night sky
weaving fragile threads of light
that appear and disappear
in the twinkling of an eye

what will we do
with this one precious human life
that has been entrusted to our care?

how will we care for one another
and care for our selves
before the light of a new day
changes everything?

Third: Grief connects us to all of life.
We are passengers on the rivers of love and loss
born along in fragile crafts
towards an unknown destination.
Grief connects us,
willing or not,
to those we have loved and lost
but will never forget---
the pets we cherished as children
our grand parents & parents,
beloved friends and family,
intimate strangers....

we are all connected by the waters of life and death
we are born along by invisible currents
leading towards an uknowable  destination---
call it what you will
life,  death, god, nature, spirit, mystery....

may we remember as we continue on this journey
that we do not  travel alone
we are surrounded by good companions
we are sustained by the earth beneathe our feet
and the sky over our heads:
it is good to be
it is good to be here
it is good to be here with one another
amen....blessed be

Blessed are the peace-makers