This week we’ve had too many deaths. Too many people saying goodbye. And when you’re in that grief space, everything looks different. You start noticing things you usually walk past. The way the sun hits the grass. Your neighbor’s kindness. A stranger holding a door.
Grief does something to you. It puts you on pause and makes you pay attention.
I was thinking about that and about how we go through life often half-asleep, checking things off, moving to the next thing. We’re not really present. We’re not really looking at each other or at the beauty around us. And it takes loss to wake us up.
You know what Jesus asked? “Do you want to be healed?” Not “Would you like me to fix your problem?” but “Do you actually want wholeness? Are you willing to change?” Because healing isn’t just about getting rid of the bad stuff. It’s about being made whole.
And that wholeness starts with paying attention. Noticing the good things. Being grateful for them while you have them. Looking at the people in your life and really seeing them instead of looking through them.
The bereavement meals we share after a death—those aren’t just about food. They’re about people saying “we see your pain and we’re here with you in it.” That’s what community does. That’s what church does. We witness each other’s suffering. We help carry the weight.
And we do it knowing that every day is a gift. Not guaranteed. Every conversation could be the last one. Every hug matters more than we know. All right, so maybe today—look around. See what’s beautiful. Tell someone they matter. Because they do, and you never know what tomorrow brings.
A reflection by Rev. MaryGean Cope