Heaviness.
Behind the smiles, the words
of normalcy seem hollow.
The appearance that all is
as it used to be hides
great grief, a pain beyond
words, a hollowness
within that will live
beyond her death.

Weariness.
My soul is weary; weighed
down with a grief that is
not only mine, but the sum
of a great many whose dark
night awaiting Light look
to God’s priests for words
to heal their wounds – even
as I seek the Quieting Voice.

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’ (Luke 8.22-25, a portion of the Gospel appointed for Wednesday in Easter 5, Year 1)

What happens when suddenly tragedy comes and a faith community becomes wracked with grief? In a healthy community people come together to offer support and love. People look to the leader or leaders to set the tone in moving forward.  Words become important.

Occasionally, though, we who are called to comfort sometimes need comforting words.  We need to have the Quieting Voice “rebuke” the storm.  We need to be reminded that God’s Love is still working on our behalf so that we can work on behalf of those whose lives are upended by life’s unfathomable twists.

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our sister Holly.  We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.  In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn.  Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.