Editor's Reflections on the Journey: There's No Place Like Home

When people share their fears about what they are going through in the grief process, a major theme is the very real fear that the way they feel today could somehow, possibly, be the way they will feel forever. No matter what day it is in their journey they wonder; how could they possibly live the rest of their life in black and white, when everyone else is seeing color?

 

One of the visual metaphors I like to use for this feeling is from the classic movie, "The Wizard of Oz".  Dorothy and Toto are spinning helplessly on her bed in the middle of the tornado. Debris is whirling around them. It is dark and black and they could possibly die.  Dorothy sees images of all of her loved ones flash before her eyes.  Then.... miraculously, the tornado moves on and the house and the bed come down to earth with a resounding thud.  Dorothy, ever so carefully,  cautiously, and fearfully, opens the door of her house and sees the glorious, bold, bright, and almost blinding color of Oz.  She has left the sepia tones of Kansas, the black and dark tones of the tornado, and she is suddenly bathed in beautiful sunlight and color.

Smithsonian Institution Display 

The grief journey is like that. Perhaps not so abrupt or sudden, but there will be a day when you look outside and notice again that the trees are a beautiful shade of green. You will feel the sun is warm and glowing and yellow, and that your life includes hope and joy again.  Slowly, surely, and persistently, you will notice color and hope, and you will be able to say, ”Wow, I think I’ve survived the tornado”.
 

But the change is not because of the Wizard, but because of the true healing of God. He wants YOU to live the rest of your life in bold and brilliant color, even though you have been through a tornado.

 

Dorothy says, “There’s no place like home”, and you will find that there is no place like the home ....of God.

Welcome to the Grief Slinky!

We have officially started our blog, the Grief Slinky.   If you have been with us since Week 2 of the Winter 2013 workshop, you know what the slinky represents and why this symbol is important for you to remember.  Progress can sometimes seem so slow and the journey can be extremely difficult with dizzying twists and turns, but you are not in the same place as you were at the beginning.   It is in the looking back that you can see this a bit clearer.  However, each day continues to bring new challenges and it is important to stay focused on today.  God promises to and will help you through each day as you look for His provision and comfort, one day at a time. 

We are pleased to announce the Winter Workshop's teaching will be available until 3/31 by clicking on the Workshop Audio link on the right panel.   Select the interested title of the week, download it to your own computer and then listen via your Windows Media Player (or other applications capable of playing MP3 files.)    We strongly encourage you to meet with someone in your group to discuss this material.  An easy way to do this is to connect over a meal in Willow's atrium on any Wednesday before the evening's program or between Workshops before the Mid Week Experience.  Being with safe people, and sharing and listening to one another is a key aspect to making progress in your journey.  

If you have difficulties accessing the audios, please do let us know at the email shown below or at the next workshop.  We pray listening to these again (or for the first time!) will continue to guide you along the way.