SOLACE: Soul + Grief

Send us Fan Mail What if our deepest sorrows could transform into profound spiritual growth?  Let us share experiences with those who mourn, offering insights on how God’s unwavering love can guide us through the darkest times. Today, I reflect on the resilience found in faith and community, particularly during devastating events like the recent fires in Los Angeles. This episode invites us to rea...

Send us Fan Mail Inspired by the heartfelt teachings of Father Greg Boyle, today we navigate the stories of loss, including the poignant experiences shared about his mother's passing.  Terry Jelley is back and together, we explore the power of simply being present—sometimes a silent hand can speak louder than words, offering a spiritual embrace during the darkest moments.  Father Boyle's...

Send us Fan Mail What if embracing your deepest fears could lead you to a path of peace and love? Today, we'll delve into the depths of Ignatian spirituality, focusing on the challenging concept of desolation in prayer during times of mourning. Drawing inspiration from the lives and teachings of Mother Teresa and St. Ignatius, we uncover the transformative power of surrendering to God's...

Send us Fan Mail What if letting go of the past isn't an act of betrayal but a step toward healing?  Through the  verses of Micah, we explore how grief can feel like the last leaf in a storm, and yet, there is comfort in embracing the memories that continue within us. Come into our circle of healing, where we pray for the strength to move beyond pain, comforted by the promise of new life and...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how prayer can be a guiding light through the shadows of grief?  Discover through four key steps to connect with God's life-giving power, inspired by Agnes Sanford's teachings. Together, we reflect on the remarkable faith of the centurion in Matthew 8:5-10, illustrating how specific prayers can navigate the complexities of grief while cherishing th...

Send us Fan Mail Today I welcome back my dear friend Terry Jelley to share our heartfelt experiences of accompanying those during their final moments.  Stories from hospital rooms, capture the sacredness of death and the peace that can accompany it, even when loved ones aren't physically present. Amidst the evident pain and sorrow, these narratives highlight the beauty of connection during li...

Send us Fan Mail Today we focus on the transformative power of acknowledging life's brevity through the teachings of the 14th-century classic, "The Cloud of Unknowing." As we navigates the profound wisdom of scripture, we can see how the eternal attributes of God—His length, breadth, height, and depth—offer a sanctuary of solace amid sorrow -- a spiritual toolkit to harness strength...

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Send us Fan Mail Join us to illuminate the complex weave of grief and hope during the Advent season.  This time traditionally filled with joy and anticipation can be difficult for those mourning a loss. Advent, marked by a sense of waiting, mirrors the journey of grief—a process of waiting for healing and light to break through the sorrow. Examine the paradox of celebrating during a season that am...

Send us Fan Mail Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal journey, fraught with challenges and moments of profound emotion. offering companionship and understanding to those navigating the tumultuous waters of grief. This episode invites you to explore the comforting embrace of God's unwavering love, as reflected in the scripture of Hosea 11, and how it can serve as an anchor in...

Send us Fan Mail Drawing inspiration from the life and writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we explore how his powerful poem "Who Am I?" invites us to reflect on the essence of our identity and the assurance of being known by God.  Weaving in the wisdom of the prophet Jeremiah, learn how peace can emerge from the understanding that our true selves are cradled by divine recognition, even when...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt truly unmoored after the loss of a loved one, grappling with questions about your identity and future direction? With reflections and spiritual insights to light, using Psalm 71 as a beacon of hope and strength. Through personal stories and scripture, navigate the complex emotions that accompany grief, recognizing how God's enduring presence can serve as ou...

Send us Fan Mail Grief has a way of reshaping our lives in the most profound ways, and navigating through it can often feel overwhelming. Reflecting on my personal journey after losing my father, I invite you to join me in exploring the subtle yet enduring presence of grief that persists over time. Through the lens of Psalm 138, we discuss the comforting power of gratitude and the unwavering love...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt the lingering presence of a loved one after they've passed on? We can create a sacred space where we honor their lives, embrace the changes their absence brings, and find guidance through faith and love. Through heartfelt reflections; and, inspired by the wisdom of Psalm 143, we uncover the essence of what the deceased ask of us: to remember them fully, to...

Send us Fan Mail ( Let me be unvarnished for a moment, this episode is lightly edited so that you can see how grief affects people.  Forgive me my trespasses.) Back in Episode 27, we talked about my father dying in hospice.  Today we discuss what happens when the loss of a loved one brings together estranged family members and stirs up unexpected emotions.  I attempt to navigate the raw and emotio...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt completely alone in your grief, wondering if God was still with you?  Offering spiritual insights and reflections inspired by Hosea 11, this episode is a heartfelt invitation to recognize God's everlasting love, even when it feels most distant. Join us as we explore the depths of God's love and presence in our darkest moments. Listen for comforting wor...

Send us Fan Mail CAUTION:   PLEASE, DO NOT DRIVE WHILE LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE. On our path through grief, we travel in a tranquil meadow, where simple acts like weaving baskets and storytelling become vessels of wisdom and comfort. Discover how reflections on faith and sacrifice provide profound solace, offering a comforting space to process and embrace your grief. Be sure to subscribe to this...

Send us Fan Mail What if the ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice held the key to understanding our own journey through grief and loss?  Today, unravel the timeless tale of Orpheus's profound sorrow and his desperate bid to reclaim his beloved from the underworld.  Explore the poignant lesson of universal longing to reunite with lost loved ones. We reflect on Margaret Atwood's evocative...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of we invite you to envision walking with God amidst the riot of pink blossoms, feeling His love and comfort even during the most challenging times. Through reflective contemplation and inspiration drawn from Deuteronomy 30, we explore how choosing life and prosperity through loving and following God's commandments can lead us to healing and peace.  Be gentle...

Send us Fan Mail What role does God play in our journeys through loss and life transitions?  Today,  we delve into the power of opening our hearts to both our own brokenness and the brokenness of others, allowing God's healing love to flow through us. Through scriptural reflections on Matthew 25 and Mark 10, we explore how love, radical honesty, and surrender can guide us toward freedom and s...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt lost in the whirlwind of daily life, forgetting the deeper connections that bind us to love and faith? This week invites you to slow down and rekindle that divine heartbeat within you.  We explore how God’s love, symbolized as golden cords, constantly ties our hearts to His, even amidst our brokenness and struggles. This episode serves as a gentle reminder that...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever walked along a beach and felt an unseen presence beside you, comforting you even in your most profound moments of grief? Experience a serene encounter with Jesus on the shore, a memory that continues to nurture me despite his physical absence. This episode invites you to experience the deep, sustaining love of the divine that stays with us from beginning to end, remi...

Send us Fan Mail How does cinema shape our understanding of grief? Let's reflect on how the resolution of the film, "Tuesday", which focuses on the mother learning to be emotionally present for her dying daughter, parallels our own experiences of mourning and gives us a blueprint for navigating our grief. "This mixture of dead-serious drama and imaginative fantasy from the Croa...

Send us Fan Mail  Discover the early church's view of breath as the Holy Spirit and how this ancient wisdom can guide you through meditations in personal grief. By focusing on breath, we can calm our anxieties, open our hearts, and invite divine presence into our lives. This episode is a compassionate guide for anyone navigating loss, offering ways to find comfort and spiritual connection. Jo...

Send us Fan Mail Inspired by the poignant words of the prophet Hosea, we draw a powerful parallel between the infinite love of God and the awe-inspiring images from the Webb telescope. We are reminded that even in our darkest moments, we are surrounded by an omnipotent love that transcends our understanding and carries us through life's trials and tribulations. Be sure to subscribe to this po...