Dealing with loss differently

No one is immune from loss, and death for that matter.  Loss is a natural part of life, and a subject least discussed, other than superficially.  That conversation is ignored until the experience becomes inevitable.  Recognizing that a person can lose more each day rather than assuming how much is gained is a different kind of admission.  These days achievement can be measured as just being able to keep one’s head above water.  An honest assessment about how an individual can prepare for and deal with loss provides a great opportunity for personal growth.  

For example, newspapers print about loss everyday in every city everywhere in the world.  People read about how people lose much, and not much about how people survive and manage to live through it.  Seldom is the rest of the story ever known or even told, unless you watch Dateline on NBC.  The final outcome is left to the imagination of the reader and how an individual might deal in similar plight.  Most recent, we hear of the people devastated by the typhoon in the Philippines.  Our collective sighs extend to the now homeless victims as sensitive, compassionate people attempt to understand just how one copes moving forward.  Surviving and enduring an “act of God” event is completely unimaginable unless someone has endured a similar experience firsthand.  Stories of great hardship, survival and successful perseverance will come in the days ahead.  Then, only few articles will praise the resiliency of the human spirit.  Robert Frost suggested how a person can deal with the unexpected in life when he wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Whether it’s losing a job, a home to foreclosure, a cherished pet, a marriage, or having experienced the death a loved one; the way forward is perilous and the more treacherous road to navigate.  Which road to chose is personal.  A successful overcoming should be the goal.  The personal growth along the way can be satisfying beyond expectations.  Seeking, finding and then receiving the gracious encouragement from others who have traveled a similar road is key.  It’s the road “less traveled.”  Those who choose to offer support and help after painful personal experiences are called “wounded healers.”  These are special, gifted individuals willing to stand with and support another in a difficult time after having lived through their own personal experiences.

Unfortunately, many choose to isolate and go it alone.  Not the recommended road to travel!  Seeking and receiving guidance from God and the support of others placed in the pathway to healing is a most meaningful method to deal with loss differently.  The journey can be described as a sacred task.  Which road will you choose?

Rev. Michael Schneider

With Eagle's Wings