Coping With Grief
BY REV. AUSTIN H. ARMITSTEAD
We have experienced the fifth anniversary of the terrorist

attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. More people this year than before gave attention in printed media, radios and television and our daily conversations. This year, we became emotionally more involved than ever.

As a retired pastor, I reflected on my connection with some Methodist pastors: Rev. Robert W. Howard, Rev. Dr. Ronald Tompkins, Rev. John H. Cole and clergy associates who deal with situations of grief. Grief is a human experience. It is the strong emotion we feel as we come face to face with the deaths of those who have been part of our lives.

In war and peace we have been stunned by untimely deaths of so many people- firemen, police, emergency medical workers, flight crews and passengers and people who went to work and never returned home again.

When death comes at the end of a long and useful life, one accepts it as the completion of a life circle and gives thanks for that life of service and love. But we search for answers when we are faced with untimely death. We need help and understanding.

The late pastor, Rev. Edgar N. Jackson wrote, "The major religions of mankind have helped the grief-stricken face the emotional crises of life. They have done it meeting three needs: the need for perspective in life, the need for spiritual values in measuring life, and the need for inner strength on the part of the bereaved person."

In our communities, there have been increased opportunities for support for those whogrieve-understanding clergy, therapists, support groups, and political persons who learned to listen to people's needs and offer to help.

Many readers have been helpful and supportive to others during the past five years and have been attending funerals and memorials. May each of you continue to lend your encouragement to those who are bereaved.