UltraNormal

Guys don't do grief. We don't handle empathy real well either. Guys are supposed to be "tough", like ducks, and let all of our troubles (and everyone else's) roll of our back with a shrug of our mighty shoulders.

All this stupid manliness gets in the way of us connecting to those around us, those who might need us. A friend lost a child yesterday, and I don't know how I would react to that. I don't know what to say, or how to act. Whenever I try to imagine what he's feeling, I can't. It all breaks down. I can't imagine losing anyone, Max, Brian or Jen. I've never really lost a family member that I was really close to before, and I've been spared that kind of grief so far, and for that, right now, I feel kind of guilty.

I don't have much faith left, but what I do applies here:

• I believe in a place where we can live with God again.
• I believe all children are born innocent.
• I believe all children who are taken before their time are instantly given the highest levels of glory, because they didn't get a chance to prove they deserved otherwise.
• I believe that I have no idea what it's like to be a grieving parent, because every time I try to imagine it, I can't.
• I believe that we will all be reunited with the ones we love after we die, and that any pain we feel in this life is temporary if we have a long enough view.
• I believe finding that long view is the second most difficult thing we have to do while on this planet.
• I believe the hardest thing to do is develop charity - charity being true empathy, being able to understand the pain and circumstances of others without judgement but with compassion and love.

Everything else is secondary. If you've got some time, please pray for them. If it doesn't end up helping them, it might help us for doing it.