The grief that we feel when a loved one dies often overwhelms us with feelings and emotions that can go on for many months or even years. It does not seem to matter if the death of the one for whom we are grieving came after a long illness or was totally unexpected, as is the case in an accident. And the grieving can bring us physical pain and symptoms as well as mental or emotional ones. Most of us seem to feel that if we could just have one more conversation, or spend just five more minutes with the one who has died, our own pain could be alleviated. We all long for that contact, deep in our souls.

I’ve been trying to make sense of what would appear to be a senseless attack on America by crazed, religious zealots.

Do you know that you serve a God that is so concerned with what happens in your life that He bottles your tears. There isn't anything that goes on in your life that is so small or so trivial that God doesn't care.

In the United States, November is the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time for us to pause for a moment and give thanks for all of the wonderful blessings we have in our lives. Yet, this year, it’s difficult to feel thankful when there is such tragedy in the Middle East. The horrific act of terrorism against the US Navy, and the death and destruction occurring between Palestinians and Israelis does not necessarily make for a joyous or thankful time at all. The hope brought about by peace talks in the summer seems to have shattered in the fall. And it looks as though it may be a very cold winter.