Peace family, in the midst of so much violence and unrest, we took some time to hear from chaplain Gary Roe with Hospice Brazos Valley.
Gary says it can be challenging to know how to respond to it, which is understandable. Most of our grief is private- we lose a loved one, lose a job, move away, or something like that- but this is public grief, exposed through the media. We see pictures, videos, reports, news, and we feel sad, angry, scared, and maybe even anxious, depressed, hopeless, or grieve a loss of security. We wonder what’s happening to our word.
Gary says it’s especially hard if you are a victim of violence, know someone who has been a victim of violence, or are or know a police worker, or military member. He says the public losses bring up our own personal losses, because we look at people on video and see their grief, and we know they’ve lost parents, friends, coworkers, siblings, children, and so have we.
What can we do? First, don’t ignore it. It’s real. Second, pray, talk, and write. Take these things to the Lord. Share our hearts with him. How are we feeling about this? What does all of this mean? Pray with others about this so that you know you aren’t alone. Talk about it with others. Speak out loud. Say, “I’m feeling sad, and I’m feeling anxious about where things are going.” Write it out. Gary says, if you keep a journal, write out what is going on inside of you. You also might need to write a letter to someone you care about.
Grief is everywhere in our world, but we can and should grieve with hope and an eternal perspective. We need to remember at times like this that Jesus said, “I say these things to you so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
When you see these things, grieve well, have hope, and have an eternal perspective.
Click below to listen to Gary Roe chat with peace 107’s Brian and Kat about the current violence.