We are surrounded by death. As we walk through the grassland of life it lurks everywhere-behind, to the left, to the right, ahead, everywhere in the swaying grass. Before, I saw it only here and there. The light was too bright. Here in this dim light, the dead show up: teachers, colleagues, the children of friends, aunts, uncles, mother, father, the composers whose music I hear, the psalmists whose words I quote, the philosophers whose texts I read, the carpenters whose houses I live in. All around me are the traces and memories of the dead. We live among the dead, until we join them. Nicholas Wolterstorff
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A powerful and moving little book. It is written in a form of personal notes, which I liked. The beginning is almost like a personal grief diary, which is profoundly moving as Nicholas writes about his own personal grief experience for his son who died in a mountain climbing accident. In the second half of the book, the author explores his Christian faith, in relation to experiencing death. He asks why Jesus said to his disciples “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. Nicholas explores why when confronted with grief and suffering that a radiance emerges in humanity that did not previously exist, and why suffering may be a blessing.
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