The search for meaning is individual to each of us. It’s not uncommon to question our faith when living with loss. Sometimes people will embrace their faith and it truly carries them through. Others may question their faith and God that such a terrible thing could happen. And others may come to a new sense of spirituality. We have to allow people to do this work without judgement.
Holly the Holy Roller
~ Dr. Alan Wolfelt
Holly spends so much time talking about heaven that people wonder if her feet are on the ground! While faith values are very important and should be explored, the Hollys of the group often alienate other members by quoting scripture. Holly usually projects a lack of any personal problems and may perceive other members’ pain as a “lack of faith.”
Appropriate ways to intervene: Support that works for one person may not work for another. You can accept how important Holly’s faith is to her while also (with appropriate timing and pacing) helping her and the group acknowledge that having faith and mourning are not mutually exclusive. If Holly is advice-giving about the need for everyone to have faith like hers, you must gently remind her of the ground rules and redirect the group in ways supportive to everyone present.
Photo Credit: Graur Razvan Ionuthttp://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=987
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