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My fear is that December is going to be really sad, and that all our modern strategies of sadness-evasion—consumption, intoxication, diversion, and platitudes—will fail under the weight of what’s coming. The West isn’t good at grief.
This is a simple lament. Existence is tragic. Not every loss can be righted w good public policy or the right technology of the self. There are ways to face great pain but we’re not going to learn them en masse in a month. Turn to Jesus, yes, but it doesn’t mean we won’t be sad.
One of our culture’s great delusions is that there’s always something to say or do that will undo loss. The most insidious version of this is “making a better future” out of the rubble of loss. But the victims haven’t consented to building on their bones. Better just to be sad.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. But not always in this life. Most of the time not in this life. So grieve, and hold fast to the faith and hope that sits in grief rather than denying it: that the Lord is faithful. I’ve got nothing else.
