Grief often feels like darkness—an overwhelming loss of connection with the world and ourselves. In this episode, we reflect on Joseph Campbell’s The Blind Man at the Fair and Shel Silverstein’s The Bridge to understand grief as a journey of reawakening our emotional senses—empathy, compassion, and courage. Discover how, even in your darkest hour, you are sharpening the very traits that will guide you toward meaning, grace, and joy again. You’ve come this far—and the rest of the bridge is yours to cross.
bridges
Building Community
We don’t live on isolated islands. We live among lots of people. Some who are similar to us and some who are dissimilar from us. Yet we all share the same space. When we work together we create a sense of community where we collaboratively work for the common good. When we seek isolation we lose contact with those who share this space with us. When we loose contact we lose our connection to others and the values and dreams we share. The more we move toward community the closer we get to peace. The more we move to community the closer we get to a more just and compassionate society. Let’s build bridges and take down barriers.
Moments of Lucidity
In moments of lucidity everything seems simple to me. The complicated unravels, the mysterious is no longer a mystery, and for that spit second everything makes sense. It’s a space I want to remain in, but I’ve learned it won’t last. I’m fortunate to have my brief glimpse before returning to jousting with windmills like Don Quixote. The brief glimpses of the simplicity of life helps me to focus on what’s really important:
Love is the answer.
We all need forgiveness, no one is perfect.
Kindness builds bridges faster than a construction crew.
Today’s Thought: Discover Endless Possibilities
I frequently visit family who live in a community abutting the Mississippi River. When I visit I enjoy going down to the river. I watch eagles dive for fish. I watch barges work their way through the locks, and I stand amazed at the wide expanse of the river. When I’m standing on the River’s edge I wonder what’s on the other side. There’s only one way to find out, I have to cross the river. Fortunately there is a bridge that spans the river. When I drive across the bridge, the other side opens up into all of the western United States. The possibilities are endless. That’s how it is in life. We can stay where we’re comfortable and feel safe or we can cross our metaphoric river and discover endless possibilities.
A Better Life ~ Build Bridges
Today tear down the personal defenses preventing you from loving those closest to you. Toss away resentments, anger, and grudges. They do no one any good. Build bridges to those you love. One day you’ll be waiting and seeing those you love walking toward you over the bridge you built.
A Better Life ~ Love Builds Bridges
In great relationships there are great differences that make no difference to either party. Love builds bridges between differences. The bridge is built with respect, tolerance, and a deep understanding that real lovers don’t convert each other, they learn from each other.
