Meeting S.A.R.A.H.

This message is addressed to every individual who is dealing with personal loss.

Please accept this post as an offer of due sympathy and prayers as you deal with your loss.

Celebrate the Life.
Continue to reflect on the memories that have become as valuable as frankincense.

Let the Memories remind you of Life.
Let the Life remind you of God.
Let God remind you He is your Comforter.

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There may be days when the sense of loss may be overwhelming.

Remember S.A.R.A.H.

'And it came to pass'...not to stay.

A reminder and encouragement that challenges can be faced and overcomed by understanding Loss through Meeting S.A.R.A.H.

Allow me to briefly explain the Meeting...

S --- Shock, Stunned disbelief to an event.

A --- Anger. May be directed towards self, family, friends, bureaucrats, bureaucracies, and God.

R --- Rejection of social network and/or support. May involve denial.

A --- Acceptance of Reality. Involves understanding and reconciliation of issues. Develop new capacity to cope constructively with Loss.

H --- Healing. Using newly acquired knowledge and coping capacity to produce and/or promote general awareness and understanding.

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Now, from personal experience, though it has been more than five years, there have been times when I've reached for the phone to call my dearest friend, Katrina. Suddenly, I found myself Meeting SARAH once again. Yet as time passes, the frequency of the meetings are reduced and the intensity of the meetings are diminished. Loss is inevitable. Dealing with it is optional and requires a person 'Meeting S.A.R.A.H.'


SARAH is written in loving cherished memory of Katrina Jones who died in 2005. Hopefully, this may edify and encourage you to meet all challenges moving forward.




Further Reading


Related Blog --- Surviving the Devastation of Loss

Surviving the Devastation of Loss

Five years later there's reflection on surviving the devastation of hurricane Katrina. I'm not referring to the devastation of loss experienced by the residents of New Orleans/Gulf Coast. I'm talking about the devastation of loss experienced by myself in the death of my dearest friend.

Katrina. We have been friends for over twenty years. there have been positive and not-so-positive times. We didn't always agree on everything. As we moved through normal life transitional events the preservation of the friendship was not due to daily contact or geographical proximity. the bonds of friendship strengthen through intimacy i.e. psychological connection based on an ever-increasing understanding of and respect towards each other.

When I received the news of her death there was utter shock, anger, and disbelief. Without exaggeration, suddenly the world seemed so different; yes, the sky, trees, and everyday routines. Everything seemed surreal. Like a hurricane that brings forth damaging floods, the death of Katrina brought forth flood of emotions that was truly unsettling.

Now five years later renewal is taking place --- Faith is replacing disbelief; Serenity is replacing anger; stability is replacing uncertainty. In the wake of Katrina, there's realization that though her absence is felt greatly, life is all about resilience. This realization is confirmed through her friends and family as they pursue their aspirations, acting with courage to care deeply and love completely again.

The movie, "Beaches" starring Bette Midler is a nice, though not complete illustration of our friendship throughout the years. There's a reminder that I have truly been blessed to have had such a friendship in my lifetime. As the bible records that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the the soul of David so it seems as though my soul was knit to Katrina; for I loved her as my own soul.

May the devastation of loss bring forth the encouraging words, "I Will Survive" so that it may produce the testimony, "I Am a Survivor".

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"Never Would have Made it"

by Marvin Sapp

Further Reading

Related Blog --- Meeting S.A.R.A.H.

So Let It Be

"Many prayer services and memorials will take place to remember the events of 9/11 and honor the memories of those who died and the heroic efforts of many citizens 10 years ago. I offer this meditation as we observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11:"

"Let us remember those who died as victims of terror, each of them an image of God, a universe of hopes;"

"Let us recall with gratitude, the heroism and courage of the first responders;"

"Let us remember the compassion and altruism of ordinary citizens who turned to help both strangers and friends;"

"Let us bring gifts of faith, justice and mercy to all who yearn for comfort and renewal;"

"Let us reject prejudice and violence against those who believe differently, dress differently and speak differently;"

"Let us combat stereotypes and refuse to speak or accept words of hatred and acts of intolerance;"

"Let us build bridges of civil conversation in order to create a just and caring society for all;"

"Let us rekindle hope and trust and let us dream of and labor for a time of understanding, harmony and solidarity;"

"Let us strengthen the hands of those who defend and the hearts of those who labor for peace;"

"Let us renew our commitment to the values of democracy, "to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for all."


Written by Dennis Sasso, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis.

[Read full column here ]