grief
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A Blasphemous Question Just For You
Before I officially became Mrs. Cook, I went to a writing conference. This is, of course, what everyone does in the last few days before they get married, right? They go to a four-day conference. Well, it’s what I did.… Continue reading
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Letters to Heaven
Every year, as January comes to a close and the calendar turns to February, I start to wonder about what I’ll say to her this year. I wonder about what I would want her to know about this year and who I… Continue reading
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The Warmth of God’s Saints
All Saints is one of my very, very favorite liturgical celebrations. It is a ritual that was introduced to me in the liturgical laboratory of my seminary. Sitting in James Memorial Chapel, I experienced for the very first time what… Continue reading
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A Few Good Things
Just two weeks ago, I ventured to Cape Cod to officiate the wedding of one of my college friends. And you know what? Weddings are fun. I say this as someone who is super busy planning her own wedding and has a bit… Continue reading
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My Grief Has A New Name
My grief has a new name and its name is wedding planning. Way back when in July, I said yes before the fireworks. We had talked about it for so long — or what felt like so, so, so long… Continue reading
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The Things They Carried
Just the other day, I heard a story on National Public Radio about the objects that are being collected and preserved after September 11, 2001. Though I am a New Yorker, I wasn’t even in the country on that terrible day. I… Continue reading
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Hang on to Each Other
I can’t quite stop myself from watching this video of the Vice President exposing his grief so tenderly and so honestly. I’ve watched it again and again and again. He’s talking to people who know grief. You can hear it in their… Continue reading
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Normal People Don’t Talk about Death So Much
Does anyone really have that many stories about funerals? That’s what I was thinking as she told the third story. Was it really the third funeral story? I tried to retrace the steps of our conversation seated there in the… Continue reading
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6 Ways for Congregations to Care for Grieving Families
Last week clergy did all that they could to proclaim the greatest mystery of Christian faith. They preached with all that they had in them. They led beautiful, inspiring liturgies throughout the weekend — some did so all week long.… Continue reading
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Hope Within Me
From far too many pulpits, there isn’t a word said about how long and how hard grief can be. I don’t know why this is. I don’t know if it’s a hallmark of our society or the stubbornness of a… Continue reading
Cooking with Elsa 