INTRODUCTION
This story was inspired by my work as Bereavement Coordinator (aka grief support) in hospice for almost six years. Among the many models used in the grief support world to represent the early and intense parts of the grief journey is the waterfall, which is defined by shock when one initially falls, and then crashing to strong tumultuous water currents at the bottom that will pull the griever under, and the feeling that there is no way out. Many call these moments of feeling trapped and overwhelmed the "pits" of grief.
In our journey, we will go through many "waterfall" moments, and hopefully over time we learn new tools and new perspectives, insights, especially the knowledge that while the experience might be intense, we are capable of surviving it. We can always use extra help, perhaps a floaty to help us keep our heads above water.
This story was inspired by my work as Bereavement Coordinator (aka grief support) in hospice for almost six years. Among the many models used in the grief support world to represent the early and intense parts of the grief journey is the waterfall, which is defined by shock when one initially falls, and then crashing to strong tumultuous water currents at the bottom that will pull the griever under, and the feeling that there is no way out. Many call these moments of feeling trapped and overwhelmed the "pits" of grief.
In our journey, we will go through many "waterfall" moments, and hopefully over time we learn new tools and new perspectives, insights, especially the knowledge that while the experience might be intense, we are capable of surviving it. We can always use extra help, perhaps a floaty to help us keep our heads above water.
THE RIVER OF LIFE
(by Chaplain Donnel) Once there was someone, a traveler, who took a boat trip on a river, and was so excited to be on this adventure. This person got on a canoe and gently paddled on the river. She noticed the peaceful and gentle flow of the river, the trees on the riverbanks dancing in the cool breeze, and the beautiful singing of the birds. Then slowly she heard a thundering roar up ahead down river, and at first didn’t think much of it, but very quickly she realized that the boat was fast approaching the edge of a waterfall. She tried to paddle out of the currents of the rapids, but it was too late. With the force of the currents pulling the boat, no amount of rowing would help now. |
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At first, a surge of feelings came upon the person: panic and fear, but as the boat fell into the abyss of the bottom of the waterfall, she was shocked at how everything had come to this.
As the adventurer and the canoe hit the water below, the strong rapids, the undercurrent, kept pulling her down. The person would try to swim up, occasionally finding success to take a deep breath of air, then another strong current would pull them down under the water once more. This happened multiple times, and she felt so tired. It felt like any effort to stay afloat her head above water took forever, and because of the exhaustion, she was about to give up. |
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But finally, the traveler was able to grab on to a piece of floating log to help her float. This log gave her time to rest and regain strength by not expending unnecessary energy.
Exhausted and holding tightly to the log, the traveler floated down the river. She took a deep breath, and while floating downriver she once again noticed the trees, the cool breeze, and the singing birds.
Exhausted and holding tightly to the log, the traveler floated down the river. She took a deep breath, and while floating downriver she once again noticed the trees, the cool breeze, and the singing birds.
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REFLECTION QUESTIONS
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Guide for Facilitators of Spiritual Care Groups
Practice Spirit Play storytelling:
- STORY MATERIALS
- VIDEO
- SCRIPT
