Ray

I had gone through a divorce and suddenly found myself as more of an expert on pain and suffering than I had ever wanted. I had feelings of anger, guilt, anxiety, and loneliness just to name a few.

I asked myself, "why did the love of my life leave me?" I wondered why I had to go through all this pain and suffering, I didn't deserve it. Nobody knew how I felt, no one could possibly understand. Does this sound familiar?

Sometime later I joined a local Catholic singles group and found that divorced men and women were part of that group. But they weren't acting and feeling the same way I was. They had something, and I wanted it too. I found out that they had attended a Beginning Experience weekend. They talked me into going, and so I went not knowing what too expect.

I found a group of individuals who welcomed me with compassion and understanding. They knew how I felt. I learned in that weekend how to start a journey of recovery by dealing with my grief issues and learning how to experience God more deeply. I learned that dealing with grief brought me to a point of making necessary changes so I could live with the loss in a healthy way.

I also learned that dealing with grief calls for growth. Part of this growth is often painful and scary. I found that there is no change without fear or loss and there is no loss without pain. I learned that I will be making some major changes in my life, my home, my family, my hopes, and my finances.

I learned that I will have to change what I do and that I will take on new responsibilities. This weekend was a new start for me. I welcomed the opportunity to share what I had gone through with others just like me. This team was one of God's gifts.

Remember God wants us to face our reality as it is. God isn't finished with me and He isn't finished with you. Start your journey to recovery.