<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp34ce60a8yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="font-size: 16px;"></div>
<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false" style=""><div style=""><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;">Hi Karen,</font></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;">A preliminary response . . . also attached.</font></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;">Ellie :)</font></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><font size="2" style="background-color: inherit;">elliestock@aol.com </font></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif"><br></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
THOUGHT I HAD SHED ALL MY TEARS</span></div>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif"> </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
thought I had shed all my tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a
lifetime of tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">drops
rivuletting canyons in once smoothe skin,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">cascading
into deltas and emptying into a sea of sorrow,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">now
parched and dried like</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">my
once choking and burning throat.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
thought I had shed all my tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a
lifetime of tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">sobs
of shock and pain muffled in pillows,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">deep
shaking heaves trying to catch breath,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">threatening
to suffocate.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
thought I had shed all my tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a
lifetime of tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">of
hurt and hurting, of remorse for the done and undone,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">the
betrayal of and by those close,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">the
final separation from loved ones, land, </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">and
what is most cherished,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">of
sleepless nights and </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">prayers
like drops of blood for the sick and dying,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">of
births that never were.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">of
fading health and dreams.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
thought I had shed all my tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a lifetime
of tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">screams
and cries of anger, fear, and anguish over</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">the
corruption, consumption, and killing fields of </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">Earth
and all that is in it,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">billions
of years extinguishing </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">in
the embers and ashes of truth and justice,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">communities
and trust shattered,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">innocent
suffering,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">sacredness
violated, sorrow unbounded,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">lamenting
echoing lamenting, looping and looping and looping,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">grief
unbearable, unconsolable, overwhelming, numbing,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">dried,
vacant eyes staring stoically into the void,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">filled
with harpies advertising, urging, encouraging</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">to
eat, drink, and be merry.<span> </span>But</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">how
can I sing while mourning in </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">this
strange, foreign land?</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
thought I had shed all my tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a
lifetime of tears, no more left to be wiped away.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">I
woke up in the middle of the night,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">anxiously
awaiting dawn, but</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">the
heavens were weeping, lightning</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">and
street lamps the only light,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">cloud-bursting,
four winds swirling,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">thundering,
torrents and storms of tears,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">piercing
the soil and bouncing off asphalt,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">quenching
the drought-thirsty <span> </span>trees losing </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">autumn
muted colored leaves, </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">trying
to cleanse, to refresh, to renew, to regenerate</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">the
parched planet and also</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">piercing
my soul, drilling into</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">unbeknown,
untapped fossilized tears that melted, trickled,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">moistened
eyelids, then gushed,</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">flowing,
cleansing and renewing.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">No
rainbow but deep gratitude and stillness and</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">a new
Covenant with a new day and </span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">All
that is in it.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">Then
I calmly reached for a box of Kleenex.</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">ejhs</span></p>
<p class="ydpab7e5bb6MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman,serif">10/30/2023</span></p></div><br></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br></div>
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On Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 06:53:03 PM CDT, Karen Snyder via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
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<div><div dir="ltr">This week the Daily Good had an article by Francis Weller called “Drinking the Tears of the World: Grief as Deep Activism”. Weller articulates four gates of grief that I have never known how to acknowledge before: <br></div><div dir="ltr">1. Losing someone loved<br></div><div dir="ltr">2. Neglected places of soul such as as a sense of shame and feeling of inadequacy<br></div><div dir="ltr">3. Losses in the world of species, habitats and cultures<br></div><div dir="ltr">4. Loss of community and rituals that keep us connected to our soul<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">With this understanding one realizes that everyone grieves. I find myself wondering how much anger and hatred in society covers a deeper experience of grieving. <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">What is your response to this writing? <br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><br><br>Peace and love,<br><br>Karen Snyder Troxel_______________________________________________<br>Dialogue mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net</a><br><a href="http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net</a><br></div>
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