Lamenting the Loss of Laments

Summary

Twice in my life I’ve had to face my mortality: At 15 I was in a serious car accident in which I could well have been killed. Then, at the ripe age of 50 I had open heart surgery. After this last incident I had a need to talk about my mortality, but I had difficulty finding people who were willing to have conversations with me about death. Men of my age were especially resistant to it.

Then I learned about a retreat devoted to discussing the writings on death by Henri Nouwen, to be held at the Hermitage north of here in Michigan. I went to that retreat, and it turned out to be just what I needed.