I got a call this morning from Nina. Cathy, our unofficially adopted sister, will be losing her dad any time now. He’s been in the hospital most of the year, but has consistently gone downhill. Last weekend the hospital summoned her and her brother to say their dad was nearing the end of his life on earth and they should come to his side. All his organs have pretty much shut down. This morning he started bleeding internally. In order to not prolong his suffering, they will take him off the respirator today and allow his body to die.

His spirit, however, is alive and well, and will live forever in heaven. This thought wasn’t much comfort to me after my dad died, so I know it won’t be much to Cathy. At least not right now.

I’ve been reading about the Jewish tradition of sitting Shiva. I think it’s a tradition we followers of Christ would do well to adopt. Even though we know our loved ones are now dancing in heaven with God, we still deeply mourn their loss. Sitting Shiva allows the grieving process to begin and gives the mourners space to express their grief and pain however they desire. Shiva only lasts for 7 days, but the grieving process will go on for the rest of their lives. At least there are 7 full days to just grieve and do nothing else but.

So often we in the Body of Christ are far too impatient and grace-less with those who are mourning a loss. We need Shiva. We need to give them room to mourn. We need to come together as a community, which is what Shiva provides, and mourn the loss with our brothers and sisters. We need to come serve them; with meals and cleaning, with memories of the person now gone, and with our silence. Sometimes there just is nothing to say, and in those times our silence can be more healing and comforting that our awkward words of consolation.

To all those who mourn, to all who have lost a loved one, my heart cries out, "HaMakom yenachem et’chem b’toch she’ar avelei Tzion vi’Yerushlayim. – May the Lord comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."