We live in a culture that treats grief like a broken bone. It morphs grief into something that needs to be set, healed quickly, and returned to normal function as soon as possible. We’re given timelines for mourning, prescribed stages to move through, and gentle but persistent pressure to “find closure” and “move on.” ButContinueContinue reading “Grief is Praise: The Sacred Work of Loving What We’ve Lost | Daily Bread”
Tag Archives: grief journey
The Shape of Escape: A Testimony of Climbing Out of What Almost Kept Me
There’s a term from developmental biology that stuck with me the first time I heard it: chreode. It describes a kind of groove—a well-worn path of least resistance that cells tend to follow during development. Once they start down that track, the path becomes harder to exit. It shapes them. Defines them. Holds them inContinueContinue reading “The Shape of Escape: A Testimony of Climbing Out of What Almost Kept Me”
When the Yoke Breaks
In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat. (Isaiah 10:27) There’s a moment in every true spiritual journey when you realize that the burden didn’t disappear — you outgrew it. We talk a lot about GodContinueContinue reading “When the Yoke Breaks”
What Caregiving Is Really Like (Series): The Many Layers of Grief in Caregiving
Caregiving is a profound, sacred journey that takes us through various emotional, physical, and spiritual landscapes. Yet, one of the most complex and often misunderstood aspects of caregiving is the grief that caregivers experience. This grief is not just tied to the death of a loved one but begins long before that final loss. AndContinueContinue reading “What Caregiving Is Really Like (Series): The Many Layers of Grief in Caregiving”
The Purpose of Pain: Where God Meets Us
We come into this world fragile, unknowing, and dependent—and we leave it in much the same way. Along the way, life leaves its marks on us, not in spite of its challenges but because of them. We are shaped, scarred, and softened by the trials we face. Yet so many of us chase an illusion—aContinueContinue reading “The Purpose of Pain: Where God Meets Us”
A Hero’s Wisdom: Lessons from My Father’s Library and Encouragement for Grieving Children
All of this reflection sparked by a book has me wishing, desperately, that my dad was still here. I miss him so much—especially in moments like this, when I feel so moved by his books. He loved them. I know where he stood on them, what he believed. But when he was alive, I just…IContinueContinue reading “A Hero’s Wisdom: Lessons from My Father’s Library and Encouragement for Grieving Children”
When the Fight Feels Endless: On Relapse, Abuse, and Grief
Life has a way of testing us in unimaginable ways, often leaving us feeling broken, lost, and questioning the very point of it all. Whether you’re fighting to stay sober, wrestling with the shadows of abuse, or trying to make sense of grief that refuses to ease, these battles can feel insurmountable. If you’re here,ContinueContinue reading “When the Fight Feels Endless: On Relapse, Abuse, and Grief”
The Rot Before the Resurrection: When God Lets You Break to Build You Back (A Testament to God’s Promises)
What do you do when your life feels like it’s crumbling into dust, and God seems silent? Sometimes, it feels like He’s letting you rot—but what if that decay is the first step toward new life? Now, consider this: What if God is not silent at all? What if He’s speaking in a language thatContinueContinue reading “The Rot Before the Resurrection: When God Lets You Break to Build You Back (A Testament to God’s Promises)”
Learn from the Enlightenment My Pain Caused Me (Or How Pain Is the Enlightenment)
I wrote this post a year ago, but the words necessary to appropriately convey it took a lot longer to set in. I used to struggle with anxiety, especially around the holidays. Not the run-of-the-mill holiday stress—this was the kind of anxiety that wrapped itself around my chest, whispering, “Someone’s going to die. Something terribleContinueContinue reading “Learn from the Enlightenment My Pain Caused Me (Or How Pain Is the Enlightenment)”
Grief in the Glitter: Embracing Loss, Honoring Love, and Finding Hope in the Holidays
The holidays can be complicated, especially when grief is part of the equation. As I step into this Christmas season, I’ve been reflecting on how far I’ve come in my own journey with loss and how that journey has shaped my relationship with this time of year. I know I’m not alone in this—so manyContinueContinue reading “Grief in the Glitter: Embracing Loss, Honoring Love, and Finding Hope in the Holidays”
Misdiagnosing Growth: The Danger of Labeling Spiritual Awakening as Depression
Nearly twenty years ago, I experienced what I now understand to be a spiritual awakening—a dark night of the soul. But at the time, my attempt to embrace this deeply personal and transformative experience was met with fear, skepticism, and ultimately, suppression. In the eyes of the world, my withdrawal into solitude and reflection wasn’tContinueContinue reading “Misdiagnosing Growth: The Danger of Labeling Spiritual Awakening as Depression”
What Lies Beneath: The Truth About Loss, Resilience, and Freedom
As more death—I use that term from the perspective of energetic transition, whether physical, metaphorical, or societal—continues to challenge us all, I have been met with some interesting thought processes by those around me. There is a tendency, I’ve noticed, for people to cling to the idea of positivity, as though maintaining a relentless focusContinueContinue reading “What Lies Beneath: The Truth About Loss, Resilience, and Freedom”
I’ve Written a Book, and You Can Download It for Free!
I’m so excited to announce the release of my book, The Twin Tree Philosophy! This book is the culmination of a deeply personal journey—a philosophy born out of both profound loss and transformative growth. The Twin Tree Philosophy invites readers to find balance between resilience and vulnerability, stability and growth. It’s about living deeply rootedContinueContinue reading “I’ve Written a Book, and You Can Download It for Free!”
The Art of Self-Reinvention: An Unexpected Journey
There was a moment in my life when I looked at the person I had become and felt a complete disconnect. On the surface, to anyone looking in from the outside, everything seemed fine—more than fine, even successful. But deep down, I knew something was off. I was out of alignment with myself. Especially afterContinueContinue reading “The Art of Self-Reinvention: An Unexpected Journey”
Rooted in Surrender: Finding Strength in the Inherent Duality of Letting Go and Holding On
Tonight, I had an inner experience that I feel it is a responsibility, my duty, in a way, to share with the Twin Tree Project blog and each of you, our readers. Despite the discomfort of reaching beyond my own vulnerability, sharing real-time reflections on my growth and healing feels like fulfilling a purpose farContinueContinue reading “Rooted in Surrender: Finding Strength in the Inherent Duality of Letting Go and Holding On”
A “Chance Encounter” with Wisdom: The Teacher Appears (Understanding the Kleshas and Finding Peace)
I recently had one of those profound spiritual experiences that feels like fate—a turning point that shifts your life forever. This time, though, I was fully conscious of it while it was happening. Meeting a new teacher, David Ji, a Zen master, came at just the right moment. As I navigate recovery from a majorContinueContinue reading “A “Chance Encounter” with Wisdom: The Teacher Appears (Understanding the Kleshas and Finding Peace)”
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