The Worst Hurricane Ever!
October 13, 2016
Hosted by Rabbi Mel Glazer
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Episode Description
I live in Colorado Springs, not in Florida or the Carolinas. We don't get hurricanes here. But the issue I will deal with, using some wisdom from my friend and colleague Rabbi Jack Riemer, who lives right in the middle of where Hurricane Matthew landed, are many: How could this have happened so quickly and so cruelly? How could our lives have changed from lightness to darkness without sufficient warning? And, what do we do now? I will talk about the role of religion-in this case Judaism, but all religions are included-and how religion has the wisdom to see us through these losses and help us heal and move forward. There were life-losses and there was trauma. Now the hurricane has gone away, but its effects still linger. Come listen this Thursday at 5PM PST. To my Jewish listeners, Happy New Year. And to all, I pray for a year of peace in this world created by God.
From Mourning to Morning
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel
Rabbi Mel Glazer dedicates his life to helping people face loss, because he himself has faced loss. His father died the day before his twelfth birthday. Yet he has moved beyond the emotional pain which accompanies loss. So can you. Drawn to a life of service to others, he became a Rabbi, a Doctor of Ministry, and then a Grief Authority so he could help others find a better way to heal from their losses. His two award-winning books have helped thousands of grievers find direction in their response to loss. Whether we are of any faith, or of no faith at all, losing loved ones inspires some of the deepest spiritual questions we will ever face in our lives. What meaning can we find in our losses? Where do we begin? Rabbi Mel connects his life as a leader of his community with his life as a supporter and comforter of other mourners. From this unique position, he has a great deal to teach us about facing loss. Rabbi Mel makes it possible for us to go “from mourning to morning.”
Rabbi Mel Glazer
It is a sad fact of life: Once we are born, we start to lose. You are here because you have lost someone or something very special, and you have no idea what to do or where to go or how to get there. It hurts. You are in pain. There may be tears and depression and hiding from the world and from your friends and family. You feel lost. We lose good friends, spouses, children, jobs, pets and our health. When that happens, we are clueless about what to do and how to move forward. Why is that?
Our parents do not teach us these lessons, nor does our society. We need to learn the correct way to “lay them gently down, to say goodbye.” Grieving means to complete the relationship with the departed, to say goodbye (not to forget about them!) and to be able to move forward to lives of joy and celebration. I, too have many losses in my life: Daddy died two days before my twelfth birthday. My first wife was sick for years and died. I have had heart disease for years. I recovered from those losses. I became a Rabbi, then I got a Doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in Counseling. I have written award-winning books on grief. And I am now a radio show host on VoiceAmerica.com. I did it, and so can you!
Listen to what I have to say about grief, loss and healing. You ARE strong and resilient enough. You can do this. I will take very good care of you!
