Where do I start this week? There is so much.
First I want to share what I think is a good thing. I have experienced over the past two decades or so the 5 stages of Loss and Grief. This is usually associated with a “response to an individual’s own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.” The five stages are Denial and Isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. You can read more about the world’s take on this idea HERE.
I didn’t really understand what I was experiencing until recently. Now that I can look back, it is clear. In my case my loss and grief didn’t come from my “own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.”
It came from the understanding that the world around me was changing. And it was changing in horrible ways. In my lifetime, Christian prayer has been removed from the public schools. Our kids are being fed propaganda, like the evolutionary theory, which is confusing vast numbers of young (and old) people when it comes to the reliability of the Bible. Abortion has been legalized. Marriage has now been redefined.
There is a specific event that took me to the 5th level of “acceptance.” I have written about it on this blog and it’s not important for anyone to know except that it happened in 2008.
Here is the world’s definition of the 5th level of loss and grief:
“Reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. Death may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial. It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness and must be distinguished from depression.”
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see beyond my anger and denial. The difference between the world’s view of these 5 stages and a Christian worldview is perhaps most different at the 5th level. How can I be withdrawn and calm when I see the ungodly things happening around me? I must be active and calm. It is the reality of Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 6.
There is so much going on in the world that I will focus on two (of the thousands of) items that scream the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
It is no surprise to me that youngsters lie to me almost everyday in my current position as a substitute teacher. I will always confront those whom I know are lying. God is in control. This is how I stay sane. This truth allows me not to accept the evil on goings but to accept that God’s hand will never forsake believers in spite of the way things appear.
Chris Reimers
Note: How can I leave the events surrounding Israel out of this review? There is so much on this issue and I hope I’ll have the time to cover some of it next week.
Wings of the Wind
WEEKLY WRAP-UP FOR 3-5-2016
March 5, 2016Where do I start this week? There is so much.
First I want to share what I think is a good thing. I have experienced over the past two decades or so the 5 stages of Loss and Grief. This is usually associated with a “response to an individual’s own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.” The five stages are Denial and Isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. You can read more about the world’s take on this idea HERE.
I didn’t really understand what I was experiencing until recently. Now that I can look back, it is clear. In my case my loss and grief didn’t come from my “own terminal illness, the loss of a close relationship, or to the death of a valued being, human or animal.”
It came from the understanding that the world around me was changing. And it was changing in horrible ways. In my lifetime, Christian prayer has been removed from the public schools. Our kids are being fed propaganda, like the evolutionary theory, which is confusing vast numbers of young (and old) people when it comes to the reliability of the Bible. Abortion has been legalized. Marriage has now been redefined.
There is a specific event that took me to the 5th level of “acceptance.” I have written about it on this blog and it’s not important for anyone to know except that it happened in 2008.
Here is the world’s definition of the 5th level of loss and grief:
“Reaching this stage of mourning is a gift not afforded to everyone. Death may be sudden and unexpected or we may never see beyond our anger or denial. It is not necessarily a mark of bravery to resist the inevitable and to deny ourselves the opportunity to make our peace. This phase is marked by withdrawal and calm. This is not a period of happiness and must be distinguished from depression.”
I am thankful that God has allowed me to see beyond my anger and denial. The difference between the world’s view of these 5 stages and a Christian worldview is perhaps most different at the 5th level. How can I be withdrawn and calm when I see the ungodly things happening around me? I must be active and calm. It is the reality of Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 6.
There is so much going on in the world that I will focus on two (of the thousands of) items that scream the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
It is no surprise to me that youngsters lie to me almost everyday in my current position as a substitute teacher. I will always confront those whom I know are lying. God is in control. This is how I stay sane. This truth allows me not to accept the evil on goings but to accept that God’s hand will never forsake believers in spite of the way things appear.
Chris Reimers
Note: How can I leave the events surrounding Israel out of this review? There is so much on this issue and I hope I’ll have the time to cover some of it next week.
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