From “Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart” by Brian D. McLaren
It is only in grief, in loss, that I am fully appreciating the beauty in the lives of my parents. It is only in grieving their loss in their absence that I more fully experience the sweet meaning of their presence. It is only in grieving their loss that I more fully feel my undying love for them, and their undying love for me. As I feel that sweetness tinged with grief, or that grief tinged with sweetness, I recall the wisdom of Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper in his beautiful book Happiness and Contemplation. Having counts for little or nothing, he explained. The rich man can own ten fast new cars, but appreciate none of them the way a poor child appreciates her one hand-me-down bicycle. It is not having that brings deep joy, but appreciating.