“Grief Calls Us to Life”*
Over Nauset Beach, Ma.
As soon as I heard the opening words of this sermon, I knew I must share it with you.
Who among us isn’t walking through our days with some level of percolating grief?
In the midst of our glorious world, much has been lost.
So much is threatened to be lost, as truth and fact shimmer in the glare of misinformation.
Grief is inevitable.
Loss is our birthright.
Denying ourselves access to our own grief short circuits our wholeness and inhibits our connection to each other.
~~~
This sermon given on the eve of Rosh Hashana, heralding the Jewish New Year of 5785 in Central Synagogue, NYC, offers us a profound and perfect perspective on grief, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl lives as a hero in my heart.
Her sermon is twenty minutes long, a stretch for our format, I know. Make it work for yourself as best you can; listen to snippets, if need be. However you are able, give yourself this gift.
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“Our tradition understands that we need mechanisms for mourning that will hold us up,
Encourage us to grieve,
Surround us with community,
And teach us to have a living relationship with our dead.”
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
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Dear Friends,
What did you hear? What touched you?
What is life asking you to let go of?
What are your hopes and prayers for yourself in this arena?
Grief, Loss and Renewal—Savoring Life’s Lessons
Let’s practice individually and collectively some body-centered strategies to touch into our own grief as we join together in this circle of safe and tender healing.
~~~
Dear Friends,
One step at a time,
May we find our way.
One breath at a time,
May we be reminded.
One second at a time,
May we surround ourselves with kindness.
May all beings benefit from our time together.
To dark, stormy nights.
To the glory of rainbows.
Give us the courage
And the strength
To be there
For all of it ,
As best
We can.
Aruni
~~~
*quote and sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl