I'd never known about this blog, but just read the Washington Post article and my heart broke. I'm a father of a young boy, and I felt such sadness when reading the article. As I read the first part, I just wondered how someone can approach a person who has faced such loss and give spiritual encouragement. It's hard to say something like "may God give you peace" when they have faced such a difficult experience. As I read on, I saw that you are a woman of faith. I am happy to read that, as I don't know what grief would be like without having such an anchor. I'm truly sorry for your loss. I don't know if your book is meant to comfort others, but I do hope that it provides something for those who have experienced loss and don't know where to turn.
For the person who is looking for understanding: If we take it too literally, then yes, it doesn't make sense. But there are several things to consider: 1. Translation -- some translations read "nothing is impossible FOR God" and this seems to me closer to a meaning we can understand. Lots of things are impossible for you -- but nothing is impossible for God. 2. In a less literal sense, it tries to emphasize, yet again, that we live and breathe a completely inexplicable mystery every single moment of the day. If our lives feel mundane to us, it's only because our perception is distorted by routine and small thinking (I'm in the very midst of small thinking myself right now). But in fact, if we consider how amazing it is that we are here, that there are trees outside our window, that the great glowing orb in the sky warms us and gives us life, that we spin around daily on a tiny planet in a vast and awesome universe -- none of this makes "sense." It simply is. Because we live in the heart of mystery where, on some level, nothing is impossible. We are limited beings ourselves, so we can't often experience the truth of this, but we are being assured that it's true. E.
Well Anonymous #2, thank you for your explanation. The key thing I take from it is mystery. (I have my own story about that, but won't bore anyone here with it). I have a hard time with nothing is impossible FOR God also, because if that is true (and I'm not saying it isn't, just saying I struggle with understanding that), then I come around to "well then God did have the power to save Jack (and my son), so why didn't he"? Then that whole cycle of questioning, no answers, circular thinking, people giving you what they think are the answers, blah blah blah starts. But mystery, that I can wrap my head, heart and arms around. So again, thanks for the reminder, there's a whole lotta mystery going on here.
I second that!
ReplyDeleteI'd never known about this blog, but just read the Washington Post article and my heart broke. I'm a father of a young boy, and I felt such sadness when reading the article. As I read the first part, I just wondered how someone can approach a person who has faced such loss and give spiritual encouragement. It's hard to say something like "may God give you peace" when they have faced such a difficult experience. As I read on, I saw that you are a woman of faith. I am happy to read that, as I don't know what grief would be like without having such an anchor. I'm truly sorry for your loss. I don't know if your book is meant to comfort others, but I do hope that it provides something for those who have experienced loss and don't know where to turn.
ReplyDeletei wish i could understand quotes like this. they make no sense to me. what does this mean? I can name a million things that are impossible.
ReplyDeleteThis verse has saved me often. xx
ReplyDeleteJack's verse ❤️. And rain 💔
ReplyDeletegoosebumps at the simple but profound beauty of this! thinking of you, most especially this time of year!
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI love you.
ReplyDeleteFor the person who is looking for understanding: If we take it too literally, then yes, it doesn't make sense. But there are several things to consider: 1. Translation -- some translations read "nothing is impossible FOR God" and this seems to me closer to a meaning we can understand. Lots of things are impossible for you -- but nothing is impossible for God. 2. In a less literal sense, it tries to emphasize, yet again, that we live and breathe a completely inexplicable mystery every single moment of the day. If our lives feel mundane to us, it's only because our perception is distorted by routine and small thinking (I'm in the very midst of small thinking myself right now). But in fact, if we consider how amazing it is that we are here, that there are trees outside our window, that the great glowing orb in the sky warms us and gives us life, that we spin around daily on a tiny planet in a vast and awesome universe -- none of this makes "sense." It simply is. Because we live in the heart of mystery where, on some level, nothing is impossible. We are limited beings ourselves, so we can't often experience the truth of this, but we are being assured that it's true. E.
ReplyDeleteWell Anonymous #2, thank you for your explanation. The key thing I take from it is mystery. (I have my own story about that, but won't bore anyone here with it). I have a hard time with nothing is impossible FOR God also, because if that is true (and I'm not saying it isn't, just saying I struggle with understanding that), then I come around to "well then God did have the power to save Jack (and my son), so why didn't he"? Then that whole cycle of questioning, no answers, circular thinking, people giving you what they think are the answers, blah blah blah starts. But mystery, that I can wrap my head, heart and arms around. So again, thanks for the reminder, there's a whole lotta mystery going on here.
ReplyDelete