You Were Gone

When we lose a loved one, the world can turn upside down.   Wander through the labyrinth of grief and a divine convergence - the fusion of human love and God's love. It's a comforting beacon in the bleak landscape, the embodiment of eternal love that defies human mortality.

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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WHILE GRIEVING IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE

You can reach us at: ccoutreach@dsj.org
To arrange personal spiritual direction:  408-359-5542


Our theme music is:  Gentle Breeze by Yeti Music from the album "Uppbeat".
Additional Music and sound effects today by:   via Pixabay

Transcript

Candee Lucas: 0:21

We welcome you to SOLACE: + Grief , I'm Candee Lucas, your host. When we started this ministry, we understood how difficult it was to lose a loved one, and we had hoped to create a space and a ministry that addressed these concerns and served as a source of comfort and wisdom for those who travel with God on their grief journey. This podcast is brought to you by Catholic Cemeteries Diocese of San Jose. We're glad you're here. You're always welcome in our circle of healing, love and support.

Candee Lucas: 1:11

"One morning I woke up and you were gone. How did this happen? In so many different ways, in so many different worlds, on different days, at different hours, in different seasons? The one constant you were gone. My arms were empty, my eyes were wet, my body felt separated from itself. There was no solid ground to stand on, only a new truth, a new reality which I couldn't quite bring into focus. You were gone.

Candee Lucas: 2:30

I sat at the place we used to sit, and you were gone. I went to the garden we used to enjoy together, and you were gone. I looked in the mirror to see you behind me, and you were gone. But the "g, the fact of it had not set in, was not concrete, and so I wandered from place to place within the house seeking you, but you were gone. I sat in the bedroom, but you were A t the kitchen table you were gone. Here too, where can I go that you are not gone?

Candee Lucas: 4:07

Finally, I sit alone in the room on the sofa, where you used to be, and let my eyes close and imagine you weren't gone. I imagined the sound of your voice, your laughter, your anger, your tears. I imagined it all because you were gone. I remembered, I knew, I felt how much I loved you, but you were gone. I opened my eyes and there was a presence. I felt warmth, felt my grief growing, felt a hand on my shoulder, but I knew it wasn't yours because you were gone. I leaned back and felt a comforting presence, another hand on my shoulder, but it couldn't be you because you were gone.

Candee Lucas: 5:59

I felt God's love enter me, like the sun had entered the room, because the Son had entered the room. I didn't feel hope quite yet, but I felt love and I felt cared for and I felt, in the balance, your love all around me, despite the fact you were gone. And God cradled me in that moment and I kept my eyes closed, imagining what was the difference between God's love and yours. They felt so similar-- that love without judgment, love without limits, love without restraint. It felt so familiar. Yes, you were gone, but the love, it's still here, it still surrounds me. It is the mystery of life and the mystery of death and the mystery of God that will bind us together forever. How did your love and God's love join? How can they merge so completely? How can you be gone when you're still here? The presence of God only magnifies it, makes it solid, makes it purposeful, concrete, something I can almost hold in my hand, makes it eternal, makes it forever and ever.

Candee Lucas: 9:09

That concludes another episode. Please support us by subscribing on Spotify, amazon Music, apple Podcasts or Google Podcast. We always welcome your comments and feedback. Remember, spiritual direction is always available through Catholic Cemeteries. I'm Candee Lucas, chaplain, aftercare coordinator and spiritual director at Catholic Cemetery. You can reach us through the email or telephone number in the show notes. Be gentle with yourselves. Travel safely with God, Vaya con Dios.