tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post116246295216991976..comments2024-01-11T10:58:30.769-05:00Comments on Jesus community: the goodness of griefTed M. Gossardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10580691315315271791noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162733069235844412006-11-05T08:24:00.000-05:002006-11-05T08:24:00.000-05:00J.P.,Mourning could be considered a category under...J.P.,<BR/><BR/>Mourning could be considered a category under which grieving might fit. Grieving seems to me to imply emotionally or deep down inside suffering over a loss. Maybe of fellowship, of health, of a dream or expectation, etc. Mourning in Scripture to me seems often to be about expressing need and entering into the needs of others.<BR/><BR/>But really, I don't see all that much difference. And surely there's overlap between the two. I don't know. Maybe you or someone can answer that better.<BR/><BR/>I do think there is a sense in which grieving is suffering. Though it is surely an outlet to express our sorrows and emotions over suffering or disappointments in life.<BR/><BR/>I have really seen grieving as a good outlet for me lately, a deep inward kind, not obvious to others, but certainly real.<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162514769324454482006-11-02T19:46:00.000-05:002006-11-02T19:46:00.000-05:00Allan,Thanks for your thoughtful and challenging (...Allan,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughtful and challenging (to me) comment. I guess I've never thought of grief highlighting the profound nature of humor. Both are gifts. Both are surely needed.<BR/><BR/>Interesting how we can experience humor while in grief. Must be an indication that both have their place in our lives, from God. And that the humor is an indication that God and his will, will prevail. Interesting too, that I sense that a certain kind of grief at a certain time is really good, in that I am being drawn somehow through it closer to God.<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162514197852063072006-11-02T19:36:00.000-05:002006-11-02T19:36:00.000-05:00Erika,Thanks for your thoughts. I do think somehow...Erika,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughts. I do think somehow that often in grief one does sense more of a closeness to God. It must be at least partly because we are closer to the very heart of God. Good thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162514030067342552006-11-02T19:33:00.000-05:002006-11-02T19:33:00.000-05:00haha Jamie. I did think of Charlie Brown when I wa...haha Jamie. I did think of Charlie Brown when I was coming up with that title- I believe (how can any of us think of "Good grief!" apart from Charlie Brown?!?). Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162513841639934112006-11-02T19:30:00.000-05:002006-11-02T19:30:00.000-05:00L.L.,Thanks for the link. Fine thoughts there. Poi...L.L.,<BR/>Thanks for the link. Fine thoughts there. Points to me the goodness of grief over the space of our entire lives, as we work through it in faith. And thanks for pointing out the book. I mean to get his new record album with the same name, I believe. Great music. I heard him do some of its songs in concert. And I mean to get the book, as well. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162508289943498662006-11-02T17:58:00.000-05:002006-11-02T17:58:00.000-05:00Grief highlights the profound nature of humor.Thou...Grief highlights the profound nature of humor.<BR/><BR/>Thought-provoking post. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162487783632849352006-11-02T12:16:00.000-05:002006-11-02T12:16:00.000-05:00I wonder about grief and sorrow as means of drawin...I wonder about grief and sorrow as means of drawing nearer to God because they open more of who God is to us. Living in a poor, urban neighborhood among people who suffer a great deal, I find myself grieving often. But while it does prepare me for future joy and redemption (and help teach me to truly long for those things) I feel like it also draws me into deeper places of God's own heart. When I see my Catholic brothers and sisters on their knees in meditation before the crucifix, I know that there is something good in a continuing identification with God as one who suffers and is broken...<BR/><BR/>My husband likes this quote by Nicholas Wolterstorff: <BR/><BR/>“It is said of God that no one can behold his face and live. I always thought this meant that no one could see his splendor and live. A friend said perhaps it means that no one could see his sorrow and live. Or perhaps his sorrow is his splendor.”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162476876449422552006-11-02T09:14:00.000-05:002006-11-02T09:14:00.000-05:00Great post. Though, I think you should have title...Great post. Though, I think you should have titled it "Good Grief", but then again, people might have thought it was about Charlie Brown (sorry, couldn't resist). Again great thoughts.<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>JamieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20184070.post-1162472298764741032006-11-02T07:58:00.000-05:002006-11-02T07:58:00.000-05:00I just spoke on this, based loosely on the passage...I just spoke on this, based loosely on the passage about the widow of Nain. So my answer to your question can be found at llbarkat.com ... it's accessible from the "New Box" and it's called "Do You Love Me, Do You Care?" <BR/><BR/>I was particularly influenced by Michael Card's insightful book <I>A Sacred Sorrow</I>... worth the read for anyone who's grieving anything. And, actually, though I wasn't grieving when I read it, I still loved it!L.L. Barkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13333960142447144678noreply@blogger.com