A Time to Lament

"Icicles" Ron Hendricks - Used with permission

By Kathy Hendricks

“But sometimes you have to moan

When nothing seems to suit ya

But nevertheless you know

You're locked towards the future.”

“On the Road to Find Out” – Yusuf (Cat Steven)

I am moaning a lot more these days. Sometimes it is over the state of the nation and the world. Other times, it is due to simply trying to pick something up from the floor. The ol’ joints aren’t working as well as they used to. It is cause for lament – an expression of grief over what was lost or regretted. When actress Bette Davis said that old age “ain’t no place for sissies” she tapped into the age-related issues that generate challenges and a bit of moaning and groaning.

There are laments over what we can no longer do physically, to be sure, but also those accomplishments and wish lists that are never going to be fulfilled. The bucket list has necessarily shrunk due to lack of time, resources, energy, or opportunity. We may spend an inordinate amount of time focused on medical concerns and the erosion of our health. It draws us toward what we are losing rather than what we might gain. A recognition of our limits grows more stark and acute.

Beyond our personal lamentations are those we feel for our country and our world. I personally mourn the loss of civility and measuring our language so as to show a modicum of respect for others. As a writer, I find the overuse of a particular vulgar term in books, television programs, and film scripts not only offensive but also incredibly lazy. Words matter and the casual use of terms that demonize and demean leads to a drop in empathy and compassion.

It is this recognition, however, that makes the moaning of lament valuable and even hopeful. We may not have control over what happens to us or to the world around us, but we can choose how to respond. Lamentation may lead to a place of despair but it can also break open the heart to greater understanding. Our aching joints might afford a bit more patience with those who move slowly or who have other physical ailments. Encountering the limits in our own lives allows greater latitude when considering those whose options have been curtailed since birth. Facing the onslaught of lamentable news each day might impel us to darken our screens for longer periods of time in order to focus on something life-sustaining. As Yusuf’s song continues, it is with a vision “locked toward the future.”

“So on and on I go

The seconds tick the time out

There's so much left to know

And I'm on the road to find out.”

Response

by Barbara Anne Radtke

Kathy, your reflection on lament strikes a deep chord in me. You capture so well its dimensions at our age and in our times. Perhaps the most appropriate response is to sit in silence and ponder your post. Dear reader, if you are tempted to stop reading and just sit with Kathy’s thoughts, I encourage you to do so.

What occurs to me, as a theologian, is that there is an ancient form of prayer that is lament. It is addressed to God. Sometimes that grief has overtones of anger. It is a confrontation, of sorts, searching for both divine accompaniment, release from pain, and a re-centering on trust in the Creator.

What occurs to me as a creature on this planet, is that we humans are not the only ones who lament. Raging atmospheric rivers bring volatile and dangerous weather. Extreme heat makes land unable to be farmed. Tectonic plates collide in earthquakes that lay waste to urban and rural landscapes alike. In my little corner of the globe, changing climate has the growing season starting earlier. We seem to have very little snow in winter. Our sea level is rising leading to regular flooding of some roads. The ocean is getting warmer driving some sea species farther north. Is the planet in revolt or, is it, as I believe, Mother Nature in lament?

Framing your thoughts with the words from Yusuf’s (Cat Steven’s) song is perfect for our generation, Kathy. Perhaps our readers can tell us songs, poems, works of art, etc. that encourage them to lament and/or stay “on the road to find out.”