Beyond Reason: Grief, Gratitude and Growth
Some things make sense. Some things don't. Try as we might, some experiences in life simply cannot be rationalized or explained away. They baffle and confuse us, leaving us desperately searching for some meaning in seemingly pointless events. It is not unusual for many to experience the loss of a loved one in precisely this way. In this presentation, we will look at how the paschal mystery can guide us through grief, with a view toward gratitude and growth.
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This presentation was given on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Lafayette, LA.
Listen to the presentation by clicking on one of the links below, or by right-clicking on the link and choosing to save the file to your local drive. The talk lasts about an hour.
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Lyrics for songs used in the presentation
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Peter's Canticle
by John Michael Talbot
Jesus has suffered for
you
To comfort your life
Within his dying
Dying, so that all men
might live
Bearing mankind's wounds
So that men might be
healed
Let all who seek
The true path of peace
Simply come to follow
In the footsteps of this
man
Who laid down his life
When threatened with
hatred
And so he came to live
In the blessings of
love,
And so he came to live -
forever.
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Break my Heart
by Jennifer Martin
Not that you need this
invitation
Not that you wait for my
permission
Still this is my humble
contrition
Please break my heart, O
God
With what breaks your
heart, O God
Please break my heart
Not just an empty
repetition
No, this is my sincere
confession
That I need so much more
compassion
Please break my heart O
God
With what breaks
your heart, O God
Please break my heart
For the sick, for the
poor,
For the ones who need
more
Tenderness and justice,
Break my heart
For the lost, for the
lame,
For those suffering in
pain,
Help me see you in each
face,
Through a broken heart
Lord, lift the veil that
clouds my vision
Loose every chain and
inhibition,
More than a prayer, it's
my decision
To break this heart, O
God
With what breaks your
heart, O God
For the sick, for the
poor,
For the ones who need
more,
Tenderness and justice,
Break my heart
For the lost and the
lame,
For those suffering in
pain,
Help me see you in each
face
Through a broken heart
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The Empty Canvas
by John Michael Talbot
The empty canvas waits
before the Painter
Waits to be the painting
it must be.
Unto this end it has
rightfully been created,
To reflect rightfully
what the Painter sees,
A beauty that will
surely find its life within its dying,
So another might be born
again.
And in this constant
death, a constant beauty is created,
Within the constant love
that never ends.
Jesus is the Master
Painter,
And the Holy Spirit is
the Master’s brush,
To be dipped in the
colors, that portray a Father’s love,
That the Master’s
painting might be born of us,
That the canvas of our
life might know the Master’s touch
To portray the beauty of
the Master’s brush,
(Interlude)
So an empty canvas,
waits before the painter,
An empty canvas destined
to be hung.
Within the gallery, once
it has been created,
Will the canvas bear the
beauty of the Son.
Peace I Leave
by Sarah Hart & Kevin B. Hipp
Peace I leave with you
Peace in all you do
As I have given my peace
to you
So may you give it too.
Peace I leave with you
My peace I give to you.
Peace I leave with you
Peace in all you do
As I have given my peace
to you
So may you give it too.
Peace I leave with you
My peace I give to you.
My peace I give to you.
My peace I give to you.
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Music Info
The songs, "Break My Heart" (by Jennifer Martin) and "Peace I
Leave" (by Sarah Hart & Kevin B. Hipp) are available on the delightful
album, "Daughters of God".
To purchase this album, visit
Spirit and Song.com.
The songs, "Peter's Canticle" and "The Empty Canvas" (both by John Michael Talbot) are available on the album "The Master Collection", available for purchase here.
The meditation piece at the beginning of the talk is entitled "Meditation #4 Selah (by Michael Card) and is found on the album, The Way of Wisdom, available for purchase here.
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All three of these albums are highly recommended.