We Shouldn't Be Grieving Like This, America

The Beautiful Mess by John Pavlovitz Podcast · Dec 31, 2025 · 4m

I miss ordinary grief.

My father died ten years ago, and lately, I grow nostalgic for the less complicated days when the only mourning I needed to contend with was his loss, when I could dwell solely on adjusting to the scalding pain of his absence.

It was difficult enough back then, marshalling all my energies to bear the weight of that single, catastrophic passing and how different everything now was. At least then I could focus and attempt to wrap my mind around the unthinkable attrition I was experiencing. As formidable a task as it was, it at least made sense to grieve such things.

This…