Last weekend, at 3:41 on Saturday morning, I got the call I had been dreading. My sister lost her battle to her brain tumor. My pastoral supervisor sent me packing to Maine as soon as he read the email I sent to him and the Seminary.
I was in Maine for 6 days supporting the family as her daughters and son (and their support systems) managed all the details. It was a lovely wake, funeral and committal.
The high point of a very low week was the support from the Seminary. By my count 22 of my brother seminarians made the trip for the wake, funeral, committal or some combination of the above. Two of the faculty from the seminary also made the trip. My pastor from my home parish came. My pastoral supervisor came. Many drove two hours, made a short visit and drove back. I am awed by their support.
The pastor in Maine offered a rare privileged. Sacred books must be burned or buried. My sister was buried with a 1969 Lectionary in her casket.
I am back at the seminary, trying to cope and grieve. I have two major papers due in the next 2 weeks. I have not one word down on paper. I have no motivation to start. God help me.
I am so sorry, Chris. What a devastating blow. -- Liz Augustine
ReplyDeleteThe Apostle Paul said it better than I can: "Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you." (2 Cor. 1:3-5) Loss is hard, but for those who die in Christ it is only temporary. After all, Christ has won victory over death, too. --Jonathan Marshall
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