During my senior year of high school, I was part of a trip to the Morton Salt Company mine in Hutchinson, Kan. Upon our arrival at the salt mine, our pastor pointed out a quote on the wall. The quote was from Seven Gothic Tales published by Karen Blixen in 1934.
In one of the stories, a young man learns the man he believed was his biological father in fact was not. The boy asked his father how to help him feel less sad about his circumstances. The father responded: “I know of a cure for everything: salt water … in one way or the other. Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.”
In a world struggling through great losses of lives and livelihoods, and experiencing the consequential grief of a global pandemic, the man’s statement still is true. We will endure this season of difficulties through hard work, some tears, and reflecting on God and God’s creation. In other words, our cure can be sweat, tears and the sea, as well.
Sweat
I find hard work to be the most therapeutic action for coping with feelings of loss. As a student, I joined an organization that allowed me to serve the campus community through challenging physical work. I learned many lessons about how hard work can help to lead people through hardship. I was given the chance to work through grief via acts of service.
The paradox is profound. I often found God in the moments spent serving the most broken and in need people. These people created growth and change in me. However, opportunities to serve in this way have become harder to find during the pandemic.
Nowadays, when I am disheartened by the news or feel purposeless, spending hours on the couch, I give myself the option to go for a run or workout. This movement awakens my body and creates purpose in the day. Exercise also serves as an act of physical worship for the gift of our bodies within God’s creation. This movement has provided a sense of purpose to me in the space where physical service once stood.
Working hard toward our own personal, purposeful causes is a place where people can connect to the actions of God in the world and become participants in it.
Tears
We all will experience days when the weight of the world feels too heavy, and there is nothing but to sit and lament. When times are hard, such as they are now, God has given us the tools and the space to feel anger, frustration and grief. Grief is one of the most powerful emotional tools we have to develop an emotionally intelligent life.
I find Scripture provides the best examples of how to lament well. It indicates no fault with expressing, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46). However, the psalm also demonstrates grief is not eternal.
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In verse 22 of this psalm, there is a change in tone. The speaker proclaims, “I will declare your name to my people,” verbalizing a renewed faith in the God of comfort.
Grief informed the psalmist’s faith. Therefore, we can feel comfortable experiencing and expressing grief with God and others.
The sea
The sea often is used to symbolize contemplation and reflection. The sea offers us a chance to witness the power and glory of who God is, as well as the creation God has made.
Since being alone in creation allows me to connect with God, I feel my best when I am connected with nature. Intentionally spending time in nature has become easier during the pandemic, and I hope to bring this habit with me back into the bustling world.
Now that I have time to walk in the park or sit under the trees, I see God has made all of this world as a demonstration of his love for humanity. Surely, if God loves us so vibrantly, we can feel assured in our ability to endure the struggles of this life.
Three for three
I never fully understood the quote on the wall of that salt mine until this last year. I often ask myself how we should deal with the tragedy, fear and anxiety we face every day in this new era of sickness.
The father in the story advises simply: Work hard for yourself and others; cry about the things we cannot solve or reconcile; and create a life of contemplation concerning love for God, creation and the gift of life we have.
True Head is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Baylor and is from Athens, Texas. The views expressed are those solely of the author.
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