Losses of Our Lives: The Sacred Gifts of Renewal in Everyday Loss - Hardcover

Nancy Copeland-Payton

3.56

9 ratings by Goodreads

9781594732713: Losses of Our Lives: The Sacred Gifts of Renewal in Everyday Loss

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 159473271X ISBN 13: 9781594732713

Publisher: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2009

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Most books on loss focus on the big losses (death, illness, divorce) or on specific losses (relationships, jobs, pets, memory loss, financial loss). Going beyond loss as a problem to be resolved, a grief to be worked through, Dr. Copeland-Payton reframes loss from the perspective that our everyday losses help us learn what we need to handle the major losses. Weaving in spiritual and archetypal themes, personal and scriptural story, the author poses that by becoming aware of what our lesser losses have to teach us, the larger losses of our lives become not so terrifying. When we intentionally enter into our everyday walk through small losses, the terrain of larger loss and the valley of the shadow of death is not totally unknown. It is not completely unfamiliar, alien, terrifying, for we have walked some of this way before with our lesser losses. We can journey through this valley of loss, for journey through it we must. And we can emerge markedly changed, but alive, on the other side. Not since Judith Viorst's classic book Necessary Losses has there been such a significant exploration of ordinary losses, especially from a spiritual perspective. An especially valuable book for people in transition, and for spiritual counsellors and therapists.

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Review:

"Capture[s] beautifully the paradox that the losses of our lives can become our gains. By weaving story, experience and faith shows how our deepest hurts may be the soil that nurtures the seeds of our transformation." Sr. Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho

An extraordinary and wise guide in the treacherous terrain of loss. Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, author, Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide for Fostering Wholeness

Walks us step by step through the stages of life ... helping us delve deeper into the meaning of gift and loss inconsequential or catastrophic when they are considered together. Terry Taylor, author, A Spirituality for Brokenness: Discovering Your Deepest Self in Difficult Times

Offers a way to reflect on loss that is integrative and practical. Invites the reader on a journey of depth and care. Mary C. Earle, author, "Days of Grace: Meditations and Practices for Living with Illness"

An extraordinarily wise, practical guide on how to develop a deep spirituality grounded in the matrix between the wounds of everyday life from birth to death and the longing for God as the sacred ground discovered in the everyday gifts of life. Dr. Tyron Inbody, professor emeritus of theology, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; author, The Transforming God: An Interpretation of Suffering and Evil

[This] beautifully written and deeply pastoral book touched my soul as [the] stories melded with my stories to explore ever more deeply the fabric of gift and loss in our lives. To everyone who deals with losses and that's all of us I highly recommend it. Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, president, World Alliance of Reformed Churches; visiting professor of ecumenical studies and global ministries, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary"

An extraordinary and wise guide in the treacherous terrain of loss. Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, author, Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide for Fostering Wholeness

"Capture[s] beautifully the paradox that the losses of our lives can become our gains. By weaving story, experience and faith shows how our deepest hurts may be the soil that nurtures the seeds of our transformation."
Sr. Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho

An extraordinary and wise guide in the treacherous terrain of loss.
Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, author, Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide for Fostering Wholeness

Walks us step by step through the stages of life ... helping us delve deeper into the meaning of gift and loss inconsequential or catastrophic when they are considered together.
Terry Taylor, author, A Spirituality for Brokenness: Discovering Your Deepest Self in Difficult Times

Offers a way to reflect on loss that is integrative and practical. Invites the reader on a journey of depth and care.
Mary C. Earle, author, Days of Grace: Meditations and Practices for Living with Illness

An extraordinarily wise, practical guide on how to develop a deep spirituality grounded in the matrix between the wounds of everyday life from birth to death and the longing for God as the sacred ground discovered in the everyday gifts of life.
Dr. Tyron Inbody, professor emeritus of theology, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; author, The Transforming God: An Interpretation of Suffering and Evil

[This] beautifully written and deeply pastoral book touched my soul as [the] stories melded with my stories to explore ever more deeply the fabric of gift and loss in our lives. To everyone who deals with losses and that's all of us I highly recommend it.
Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, president, World Alliance of Reformed Churches; visiting professor of ecumenical studies and global ministries, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

"Capture[s] beautifully the paradox that the losses of our lives can become our gains. By weaving story, experience and faith ... shows how our deepest hurts may be the soil that nurtures the seeds of our transformation."
--Sr. Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho

"An extraordinary and wise guide in the treacherous terrain of loss."
--Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, author, Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide for Fostering Wholeness

"Walks us step by step through the stages of life ... helping us delve deeper into the meaning of gift and loss--inconsequential or catastrophic--when they are considered together."
--Terry Taylor, author, A Spirituality for Brokenness: Discovering Your Deepest Self in Difficult Times

"Offers a way to reflect on loss that is integrative and practical. Invites the reader on a journey of depth and care."
--Mary C. Earle, author, Days of Grace: Meditations and Practices for Living with Illness

"An extraordinarily wise, practical guide ... on how to develop a deep spirituality grounded in the matrix between the wounds of everyday life from birth to death and the longing for God as the sacred ground discovered in the everyday gifts of life."
--Dr. Tyron Inbody, professor emeritus of theology, United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; author, The Transforming God: An Interpretation of Suffering and Evil

"[This] beautifully written and deeply pastoral book touched my soul as [the] stories melded with my stories to explore ever more deeply the fabric of gift and loss in our lives. To everyone who deals with losses--and that's all of us--I highly recommend it."
--Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, president, World Alliance of Reformed Churches; visiting professor of ecumenical studies and global ministries, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

About the Author:

Dr. Nancy Copeland-Payton is a spiritual director and ordained clergywoman in the Presbyterian Church (USA). A pastor, hospital chaplain and physician who practised medicine for twenty years, she now leads retreats at church centres, monasteries and with church groups to help people explore their experiences of loss.

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