A God with Scars
When Sonya lost her dad, grief nearly swallowed her faith. But in the Gospels she noticed something — even after the resurrection, Jesus still carried scars. The marks of pain weren’t erased; they became part of the story. That realization steadied her: you can trust a God with scars. The Incarnation isn’t abstract theology — it’s God stepping into our suffering, and never leaving us alone in it.
Dealing With Grief: Interview With Sister Sarah Hennessey
Grief has many faces, and Sister Sarah Hennessey has seen them all — through funerals, fractured friendships and the quiet ache of transition. In a world that pushes us to grieve alone, she offers a different way: brave grieving in community. “God is the one who stays,” she says. Her vocation isn’t just spiritual direction. It’s walking with others through the sacred work of loss.
When You Let the Gift Go
For the last month, when his back legs got wobbly, and he started to lose weight–and when he got too weak to climb the stairs–I carried him up and down, his lanky body leveraged awkwardly against my left hip, his breath heavy and hot in my ear. Every night at bedtime, he nuzzled his nose into my arm before curling up on the floor. Then, in the morning, he’d lie splayed out near Justin on the other side of the bed. We have become experts at maneuvering over his warm, furry body in the darkest rooms. We walk carefully, always just assuming he is there.
Religious Traditions Help With Holiday Blues
The holidays can stir a mix of joy and challenges, but faith traditions offer a unique lifeline. From “Blue Christmas” services to moments of communal singing, shared meals and acts of giving, faith communities provide meaningful ways to navigate grief, loneliness and stress. These gatherings remind us we’re not alone and offer a chance to rediscover hope and joy — even in the midst of life’s heaviest seasons.
Praying for the Impossible
What’s on your heart that feels too big to pray for? Grief and loss often leave us hesitant, yet impossible prayers open the door to God’s unexpected grace.
The Slow, Sacred Work of Lament
Lament is a profoundly spiritual act because grief and loss are just as sacred as trust and celebration. It is freedom to express pain and allow love into our sorrows with us. It metabolizes grief, honoring our experiences as beings with bodies, souls and spirits.