tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post7353624778323896039..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Where real strength liesFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-12510045696092098202010-11-26T18:33:37.987+08:002010-11-26T18:33:37.987+08:00The death of our loved ones would be as you've...The death of our loved ones would be as you've said a time of darkness and grief for we have to bear the inescapable loss and the feeling that all that was once familiar are now slipping away from us. So everything is darkness.<br /><br />But our faith teaches us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We know that we have to go towards the light. However, how can we do that - to get up from this darkness to walk towards the light - this distance being a journey itself that can be fraught with obstacles and fears...? Besides we are already disorientated, confused and frightened and even tired out by our grief. So we prefer to cling to the darkness, hoping ( in the unlikelihood)for light to come. Realizing this, our friends hoping to encourage us to walk through this darkness by the strength of hope and faith would then say....'be strong'.........for this is the way of the cross??Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-56172563579680210722010-11-22T13:03:51.356+08:002010-11-22T13:03:51.356+08:00Fr. Luke,
Excellent reflection. It is true that w...Fr. Luke,<br /><br />Excellent reflection. It is true that we should allow ourselves to feel, to weep, to heal and your points about escapism are spot on; however, to say to someone to "be strong" need not always mean not to weep, but not to give into despair, which can happen in a time of trial and tribulation. Also, we may feel the pain of loss as when Jesus lost Lazarus, but we should also be strong in faith coming to the accept that what we have seen is not the end but the beginning, for we have been given eternal life by our creator.<br /><br />To not weep during the loss of a loved one, may be as you said faux strength, and without a doubt we should feel, but we musn't be overcome with our loss for in Christ there is always hope.<br /><br />Perhaps I see things in this fashion because I am accustomed to death, which is sad to say, but once it is realized that everything is the Lord's, that he giveth and taketh away, the pain subsides some. Ultimately, we must be strong. We must be strong in faith. We must be strong to show the world the hope we possess in our hearts and that our God is our hope, and we must be strong as life goes on. We must always have the strenght to carry on.<br /><br />Pax tecum.The Anti-Modernisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03108312974688755489noreply@blogger.com