I’m really pleased to share that my first essay for Open To Hope, “Another New School Year Begins,” was posted on their site earlier today. Open To Hope is the kind of resource that you don’t know exists until you need it. After Mack died, I began to read every book on grief I could find and look for help, guidance, and community from those who have held up a lantern to light the path ahead of me.
I came across Open to Hope last year, signed up for their e-newsletters, and visit the site weekly. It is a non-profit organization that describes its mission as “helping people find hope after loss” and they have a variety of articles, podcasts, and Grief TV updated regularly that I have found to be very practical and nurturing at the same time.
In my reading about those who have learned to live in the gap, and FYI I just made that up to try to get away from over-using the word tension, which is to say the life of here and there. Those who have successfully navigated the journey of grief all point to the “sacredness of the moment,” this moment.
The future is not yet ours; perhaps it never will be. If it comes, it may come wholly different from what we have foreseen. Let us shut our eyes, then, to that which God hides from us, and keeps in reserve in the treasures of His deep counsels. Let us worship without seeing; let us be silent; let us abide in peace.
— François Fénelon (1651-1715)
3 thoughts on “New school year, new thoughts”
What a beautiful quote. Even “grief” is a bad word though we all have losses and disappointments of all sizes, shapes and impacts, and who doesn’t want to live graciously every day. Fenelon suggests that an orientation to gratefulness leads us along a peaceful path and that there are reasons for keeping faith.
I recently read your artilce in Open To Hope and thought that it was well written and inspirational. I am part of a funeral home in Toronto, Canada, who publishes a special newsletter which we issue out to our clients as part of our free bereavement service and support. We would like your permission to use your article “Another School Year Begins” in our new printing of our next newsletter. Obviously your copyright and other credentials will be attached to the article as written.
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> Hope to hear from you soon.
Dear Richard,
Thanks so much for your your note, of course I would be pleased to have the article run in your newsletter.