Father’s day is near and this year I don’t feel prepared to lament the indefinite absence of my father’s presence once again. As if there ever was a preparation substantial enough to carry the weight that my father is no longer alive. It’s been almost 22 years and I never feel prepared to thinkContinue reading “Absent Affirmations of my Father”
Category Archives: Grief
The Suffering Saint
Recently, I have spent a lot of time thinking about suffering and my desire to avoid it at all costs. It sucks to suffer. End of story. January was laden with suffering and loss for a few of my friends; 3 funerals in 3 weeks to remember the lives of 2 fathers and 1 son.Continue reading “The Suffering Saint”
Silence Doesn’t Feel Like Solidarity
Those that know me well know that I love truth more than I love comfort. This past week, the ugly truths of police brutality, implicit racial bias, and systemic oppression of black and brown people made many uncomfortable. In fact, many are still uncomfortable; particularly in the christian community. This past week has pushedContinue reading “Silence Doesn’t Feel Like Solidarity”
Am I Black?
“Am I Black?” This question has echoed in my mind since it was so loudly projected from the mouth of a little boy (approximately 5 years old) to his parents as he sat with them and watched a portion of a video about the middle passage at The Griot Museum of Black Historyin St. Louis,Continue reading “Am I Black?”
When the Healer Doesn’t Heal
Sometimes I use music to silence the ache of my heart, but there is no song loud enough to remedy the ache I feel when death comes incredibly close. Death always feels sudden and unexpected; sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. In youth and old age, the heart ache is just the same. WhatContinue reading “When the Healer Doesn’t Heal”
Just Cry – Tears for Charleston and the Black Community
When a dear friend loses a loved one or when you have personally experienced loss of someone near to you, there is significant wisdom and solace in having friends who are just able to be present with you. Some of them rest in the place of empathy, having experienced the same loss, and others areContinue reading “Just Cry – Tears for Charleston and the Black Community”