All Is Not Loss

Loss is a universal human experience, and it is not limited to when a loved one dies. We experience loss in various ways throughout our lives: the death of a pet; the break-up of a relationship; children leaving home; job loss; the death of a parent; physical diminishment and more. So often, loss and grief are seen as unwelcome companions on life’s journey, yet aspects of them can be transformative. This book explores a spirituality of grief that asks how loss and grief might offer us an invitation to grow. This is emphatically not a search for ‘silver linings’ to sugar-coat pain, or a quick fix. Instead, it is recognition that our experiences of loss and grief have qualities that can enrich our lives, and that these are worth exploring. Ten chapters examine aspects of loss that are widely recognised: parting, regret, nostalgia, failure, bereavement, shame, ageing, dependence, mortality, and disenchantment. Each form of loss is accompanied by a ‘redemptive theme’, which seeks ways in which loss, over time, may be re-integrated into life and foster greater connection, meaning and growth.