 Book Reviews Restore My Soul: A Grief Companion Lorraine Peterson (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2000, 89 pp.) Review by Robert P. Mills September 21, 2001 |
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I suspect that as she wrote she was thinking of individuals grieving at the death of a spouse, parent, child or friend. But grief is not limited to individuals. It can be felt collectively by congregations, organizations and even nations. At times, all of us need companions to help us sift through the emotional rubble often left in the wake of catastrophic loss. Peterson describes Restore My Soul as "a personal companion – a guide for facing and understanding feelings and for thinking through new ways to cope with your life in the aftermath of loss." Her format is simple and effective: 31 two- or three-page chapters that begin with her personal reflections, quote passages of Scripture, and end with a brief prayer. She suggests reading these meditations with a small notebook nearby. Writing even a few lines each day, she observes, can be a "helpful - and healthy - way to unburden your soul." Some chapters describe the experiences common to those who have lost loved ones: sadness, exhaustion, numbness, turmoil, anger, isolation. Others address such practical concerns as "how will I get through the holidays?" Peterson is not afraid to challenge superficial shibboleths. "'Time is a wonderful healer … and a terrible beautician' I laughed the first time I heard this. Now it's not funny and I doubt that it is true. Time goes by. And I still feel pain and regret." But always there is Scripture, often the Psalms and the prophets. And always there is prayer, a few sentences to restart conversations with God. In offering this framework for reflecting and writing, reading Scripture and praying, Peterson provides a valuable companion for those going through times of grief. |
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