Journal entry by Al Negstad — a minute ago
"Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love...
It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; God doesn't fill it, but on the contrary,
God keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other,
even at the cost of pain.
The dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation.
But gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. The beauties of the past
are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift of themselves."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Well...I am grateful but I don't know that I've achieved 'tranquil joy'. Perhaps that comes later. Or, perhaps I need to focus with gratitude on the blessings over the years, that are contained in the memories. A litany of gratitude celebrating specific memories?
"helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other," What does this mean? Because the gap is not filled Joanne stays present to me in a way she would not were the gap filled? Does this relate to the presence of absence which is very much with me? Anyone out there who can help me with this?
Blessings,
Al
It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; God doesn't fill it, but on the contrary,
God keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other,
even at the cost of pain.
The dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation.
But gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. The beauties of the past
are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift of themselves."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Well...I am grateful but I don't know that I've achieved 'tranquil joy'. Perhaps that comes later. Or, perhaps I need to focus with gratitude on the blessings over the years, that are contained in the memories. A litany of gratitude celebrating specific memories?
"helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other," What does this mean? Because the gap is not filled Joanne stays present to me in a way she would not were the gap filled? Does this relate to the presence of absence which is very much with me? Anyone out there who can help me with this?
Blessings,
Al
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