Grow and Give — Grateful, yet Grieving
During the 90’s, I heard of a band called U2 but didn’t give it too much thought. My life was filled with work and raising a family. A few years ago, they were appearing in San Diego on my daughter’s birthday, so as a gift, my husband and I bought tickets for her and her brother to attend the concert.
I soon discovered the lyrics to some of their songs and have since become a fan. The lead singer, who goes by the name of Bono, has since written a memoir where he shares his story of losing his mother at the age of 14. “The wounds that loss opened up in my life became the kind of void that I filled with music and friendship…and really an ‘ever-increasing’ faith”.
Loss opens up a cavernous hole in us and we get to decide what to fill it with. Options are limitless. We can fill it with busyness, digital distractions, stuff we don’t need, and an array of things to numb the pain. However, there is a door to discover something more, that fills us so we can offer it to others. Like Bono, his music has been a gift to the world, offering hope and imagery in a culture in desperate need of meaning.
What have we placed in the void our loss created that is being recycled to give to others? Where there was companionship with our loved one, now there are new friendships to invest in. Where there was a shared experience with our loved one, we can create new experiences to share with those we choose.
In reflecting on Bono’s quote above, I identify with the “ever-increasing” faith. Amidst the wide expanse of the grief and sorrow, I’ve discovered a deeper and wider sense of God’s love for me. As my faith has grown, the opportunities to invest in others has given me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Out of the rumble and empty space we can choose ways to grow and give.
