by Howard Hain

Walter Langley, “Never Morning Wore to Evening but Some Heart Did Break”, 1894

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

—Romans 12:15

Sobbing is quite an amazing act. When someone really let’s go. The back shakes, the stomach heaves, giant tears rain down. The sound is unlike any other. The cry of the truly poor. The wailing. The bursting forth of what no longer can remain contained. The release. The death. The life.

“With a loud cry Jesus died.”

God…something to truly behold.

The man. The woman. Rachel refusing to be consoled.

And then it stops. Like a torrential downpour that just can’t last that long. The hard, fast, terrible roar of a summer thunderstorm. It comes and goes. The floods flash, then creation smiles once more—it almost winks, as if nothing ever happened at all. Brother Sun reappears. The black clouds…