We resist grief because it feels like surrender. But Lamentations shows us that grief is not weakness—it is an honest encounter with suffering. This book does not offer simple explanations or distractions. It forces us to face reality as it is, without defenses. The prophets do not ask us to solve pain; they ask us to acknowledge it. The human condition is marked by loss, failure, and exile—both literal and internal. Felt reality is invariably wept reality, and wept reality is soon compassion and kindness. When we allow ourselves to feel this fully, something shifts. Tears are not just reactions; they are responses. They soften our judgments and expand our capacity for kindness. In our weeping, we find solidarity with others, and in that solidarity, we discover the possibility of healing.
May our weeping open the way to compassion,
and our compassion lead us to healing.
(inspired by Mosab Abu Toha, Sobbing Without Sound; Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things)