Pope John Paul II

WHAT I LEARNED FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not a Catholic, but I felt a deep loss when Pope John Paul II took ill and then died. That's what happens to us with public people--we connect with them even if we didn't know them. Remember when JFK was shot? When Princess Di was killed? We invite these men and women into our hearts, we live through them, and when they die, we are affected. We embrace them, and they become part of our family. All you afternoon soap fans will know exactly what I am talking about!

I learned important life-lessons from Pope John Paul II, and I would like to share some of them with you. He was consistent in his message, never wavering and always being crystal clear about what the Church stood for. Perhaps that explains whay he was always surrounded by so many adoring young people. It was unusual, don't you think, for an 80-year-old man to be cheered and adored by teen-agers and Gen-Xers. But perhaps not so surprising--they knew "where he was coming from," and agree or disagree, the messenger could always be trusted. What an important messgage for us parents!

He was serene in his illness. He was never afraid, even when we all were. He knew he was dying, but it never "defined" him. He saw himself as a Pope who was ill, not a walking illness who happened to be the Pope! He did everyhing he could to retain the spark of holiness with which God created him, and at the end, we knew that the Universe had lost a Master of Holiness. Jewish Tradition might even call him a Tzaddik, a living breathing exemplar of a higher level spirit, an reminder of what you and I might become in our own lives

In The News:

ABC News
At a time of shared grief, let's not hurt each other
Jerusalem Post, Israel - Dec 2, 2008
India and Israel are hurting over the loss of lives last week. Why hurt each other at this time of shared loss and grief? The writer is associate editor of ...
Thousands Mourn Mumbai Victims Totally Jewish
• Laguna Chabad members mourn loss Coastline Pilot
After Mumbai Attacks, Chabad Movement Grieves Around the World Forward
Lubavitch.com - Jerusalem Postall 2,848 news articles

Taking the time to remember
Petaluma Argus Courier, CA - Dec 2, 2008
Maddox added that Light up a Life can also be an incredibly healing time for those grieving loss. “The first birthday, anniversary or Christmas can be a ...

Last year brought loss and recovery
Idaho Mountain Express and Guide, ID - 17 hours ago
Everything passes, including debilitating grief, and, yes, bliss, but I love the journey even so. I conclude my little tome with a story that may tickle ...

Daily Planner: December 4
Enterprise-Record, CA - 14 hours ago
Help through grief and loss associated with daily living. Butte County Behavioral Health Drop-In Center, 109 Parmac Road, Suite 2, Chico. 879-3311. Weekly. ...
Community Calendar Mercury-Register
Daily Planner: December 3 Enterprise-Record
all 6 news articles

Highmark Caring Place Resources Help Children and Families Cope ...
MarketWatch - Dec 2, 2008
"Children don't just 'get over' grief. They need time to learn to cope with their loss and the many other changes that often occur." To cope with grief ...

Helping your child deal with death
Tehran Times, Iran - 3 hours ago
When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know how to help kids cope with the loss, particularly as you work through your own grief. ...

Farragut students react to loss of fellow student in car crash
WVLT, TN - 23 hours ago
Knox county school officials say additional grief counselors were on hand today, and will continue to be on hand as long as the principal says they are ...

Teenline helps youth cope with loss
Williamson Daily News, WV - Dec 2, 2008
Help teens recognize the many emotions that can be a part of grief, but that all of us react to grief differently: Numbness, shock, and disbelief, ...

Season of joy and sorrow
Stamford Advocate, CT - Dec 2, 2008
... she is likely to feel a renewed sense of loss. She hoped to stave off the grief by surrounding herself at holiday celebrations with people who make her ...

Grieving for a pet
Lynchburg News and Advance, VA - Dec 1, 2008
Strong bonds develop between animals and humans, so it can be extremely difficult to cope with such a profound loss. People deal with grief in many ways. ...
grief loss - Google News

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