So much of our spiritual baggage concerns how we perceive ourselves. Perhaps above all other aspects of reimagining our beliefs, there is an incredible amount of work to be done in reframing our biases and attitudes towards the person in the mirror. There are new places to find rest and new places to finally engage.
Words like "better" and "testimony" can take new shape in a new time of conscience. Each precipice gives way to new perspective. Attitudes shift – not only towards ourselves, but towards people who are as we used to be. In all of this, it can be a struggle to remain present, and plenty of confusion persists well into the process of deconstruction.
But the clarity we do find is worth it.
ABOUT THE AIRING OF GRIEF:
The Airing of Grief is a podcast featuring conversations and correspondence about spiritual de- and reconstruction.
There are some great podcasts in production which tackle specific church and theology-related issues at the core of any given episode. And while many such issues arise in our calls and written correspondence, The Airing of Grief itself is not an issues-driven podcast. Instead, our particular focus is the human experience. We look for conversation more than interview, and our themes are derived from the personal stories and perspectives shared by our guests.
Our ultimate aim is the re-congregating of those who might otherwise feel disenfranchised, cut off, or alone. In processing experiences of religion and spirituality, we hope to learn that we all remain connected, and that there is a strange new community of others who are rooting for us, celebrating us, and sharing the burden of our stories. Regardless of where anyone might land on the spectrum of belief and faith, we recognize a common bond forged in our seasons of pain and disillusionment. As the old saying goes, “A joy shared is doubled, and a grief shared is halved.”
And our desire is to craft a safe place for that. We hope to cultivate real estate for the resonance and empathy which is found when we have the opportunity to invest in one another’s experience. There is empowerment in speaking the truth of our stories – not only for those sharing, but those listening as well.