seep through the filters and barriers of my mind tonight. Part of it is, simply because it is true, brought on by the sudden death of my Uncle. It is not his passing that I feel so strongly, however, but the emptiness, sorrow, anger, pain and need for understanding that I know, at this moment, my Aunt is feeling. It is at this point that I want to say to her that everything will be OK (and it will be, but it isn’t now) and that time will heal her wounds (they will, but not yet). There are so many things that I could say to try to bring comfort where comfort can’t be found. The comfort comes in the wee hours of the morning when a certain song comes to mind, when the tears start and a after a few hours of mind-numbing, muscle-straining, heart-shattering sobbing, there is just a little more room for healing; a small window of clarity. One doesn’t need to have lost someone to feel this kind of soul-cleansing sorrow; it can come in many forms. I, myself, have found myself in this place many times over the years and I can say with certainty, so have some I have known.. No one is immune and no two people deal with it the same way. Maybe it’s not the loss of a loved one or pet to death or some other tragedy. Maybe it is the loss of a friend due to a move, the loss of a job after many years of faithful service. Death isn’t the only thing that can cause us to fall on our face, confused, angry, uncertain; crying out to the only One who can ease the pain and heaviness of the burden we carry. I think it is safe to say that if someone has one human that they can lay their thoughts on without fear of judgement, admonition or abandonment, then they are, in my mind, rich beyond what they could ever hope to imagine. I find myself rich and even so, it’s not easy pouring out my innermost secrets, failings and fears. In my minds, they are bigger and more outrageous than anything that anyone has ever heard. But that is a fallacy. It is a trick and when it works, it works well; debilitating those of us who fall for its folly. Don’t be fooled. Spirit recognizes spirit; don’t be afraid to lean on people you can trust. Ask yourself this; if the situation were reversed, would you want to be that human? We all, even those of us who know we’re on a journey to somewhere better than this, need human contact, That’s how we’re wired; how we’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Don’t let your sorrow and pain separate you to the point where you become unreachable. Let someone you trust share the load you carry, whatever the cargo may be.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
A Photographer's Heart 