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Facing Overwhelming Loss
I 
don’t even know where to begin to write about the great tragedy in Japan. The loss of life and suffering of those who survived are so devastating that words fail miserably and feelings range from sorrow to numbness to anger to despair.
For many of us, our instinct is to help, to reach out, to do something … anything. Yet helplessly, I sit here, worlds and miles away in a safe place with my basic necessities easily met. My family and friends are safe, and I am safe. How do I face such overwhelming loss and grief yet go about my daily activity?
I pray, I donate to relief efforts, I tune into the news to stay in solidarity with Japan and the world, and I pray some more. It is never enough.
Where are you, God, in this heartbroken world?
Where are you when lives and hope are lost?
A grandmother, a family, a school, a village.
Where are you?
Our hearts are broken.
We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers,
never really knowing what they are going through,
yet united by the very fabric of our humanity.
We grieve, we try to distract ourselves, we pray.
Where are you?… a scared yet brave technician engineer works to calm the nuclear plant
… a father buries his family
… a grieving medical doctor pushes on to help those who survived
… a rescue worker takes a leave of absence from her job to go to the front lines of devastation to helpIn every act of grief and kindness and compassion and courage, you are there. In the brokenness of our hearts, in the desperate inadequacy of our prayers, in our pain and numbness, you are there.
Continue to be with our sisters and brothers in Japan and open our hearts ever more to hear and respond as each of us is called.
All our trust is in you.
Amen.
And amen.
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{ 5 comments }
This is beautiful, Sister Julie, and it says all that one could say when faced with such overwhelming devastation. At times like these, I think of Christ on the Cross, in the words of the ancient Hebrew Psalmist, crying out to Abba-G-D, “Why, oh why have you forsaken me?” And yet, later, acknowledging the presence of Abba-G-d, He surrenders with the words, “Into Your hands I commend my spirit.” And that is where I find G-D at times such as this: With Christ on the Cross. For some, even many, that would not be adequate. For me, as a Catholic Christian who has had her own share of struggles (although never anything coming anywhere even remotely close to what the people of Japan are currently suffering), it is Christ on the Cross that gives me hope and the strength to go on, knowing that, in all things, I am in the Presence of G-D, as Christ was.
Amen, Pat. I too find my hope in Jesus the Christ, especially those moment you mentioned where Jesus, who experienced what we humans experience, touche into despair and finds hope and trust.
I to join with the millions of people who observe this devastation and tragedy from afar with feelings of helplessnes. I know that the fact that my family and friends are safe and well at this moment has no effect upon the suffering of the people of Japan, yet I can not help but wish the same for them. Oh, how I realize that life as we seemingly know it an change in an instant. How do I embrace the fragile nature of life for all of us ~ in this situation, in any situation?
At the times when my life has changed in an instant ~ a death to a drunk driver, a cancer diagnosis, a friend lost in Katrina … I find that first I struggle with acceptance of Life on life’s terms, sometimes for a long time! But, eventually I surrender into the love that is God ~ ever present ~ ever strong ~ ever embracing. It is in the surrender that I find peace beyond all understanding, no matter what my circumstance may be.
I can be with the people of Japan in spirit, in prayer, in contribution, and in knowing that we are all ONE. I can not be with them in my physical presence at this time and can not make a difference in that way. But, I can extend my compassion, ever deepend by this event, onto the lives of those I encounter in my space today. I believe that compassion shared with one is really shared with all!
My prayer for the people of Japan and for all who are struggling is that of the gift of surrender into the love and grace of God. My prayer for all of us is that we may be “God with skin” to those around us who may need our love, understanding and acceptance in this present place and time. May the compassion we share have the strength and power to reach all around our world.
i hear you, my sister. the devastation has brought me to my knees. i know no one there personally. i have not suffered a personal loss. yet, every loss i see becomes mine, too, and every triumph i hold close. every mother’s grief becomes mine and every tiny joy, too.
god is certainly in these amazing people. there is no looting. there is no fighting. i have never seen a devastated country cope so well while remaining kind and available to one another. the dignity with which the japanese have carried on these few days is all the proof i need that god is there, in the midst of them, in their hearts and in their minds.
it seems there are many lessons to be learned here. i only wish we could learn them without all the suffering of those surviving people.
Thank you Julie for the sensitive voice you speak for so many of us who at this time lack the words for utter grief and sympathy. I do add my humble begging before our Compassionate God to call forth from the World Community a spirit of love and generosity for our suffering Japanese brothers and sisters.