The Art of Losing

He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

It was a day of “Studio Renewal” as four ladies came to my art studio for the afternoon. One lady drew a meticulously rendered sunflower with colored pencils, while sisters painted nature scenes with watercolors. My friend chose acrylic paint on canvas to paint from memory a view down a dark wooded path only to discover a symbolic opening of light at the end of the path.

The group had recently finished a seven-week program on dealing with loss. Bonding occurred gradually as they endured the hard work of recovery through transparency and trust.

My prayer that day was for them to be able to relax, have some fun and simply lose track of time.

My brief “art talk” broke the ice while we discussed art-making ideas stemming from inner expression. The spirit became lighthearted as we learned that talent and creativity were far less important than self-expression in art. I watched as a sense of joy gradually emerged while they worked on their pieces and thankfully—they lost track of time—for four hours to be exact!

 The experience reminded me of another form of art—a poem—also about loss.

 One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;

so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.

 The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three loved houses went.

The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

—Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident

the art of losing's not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

~~Elizabeth Bishop

As I reflected on the day of “Studio Renewal” and the words of the poem, I realized many readers gain strength from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, which are the accurate records of Jesus Christ’s birth, life with others on earth, His execution on a cross, and His resurrection from the grave!

From Christ’s Victory, we can share the Light of Truth with others as we eventually understand what seemed to be the most devastating loss in the history of mankind, in God’s Hands became the Ultimate Victory—the Victory through which we can experience life and peace.

The brave choice to endure a long and arduous process of recovery, with transparency and trust, opens the pathway of healing while moving toward the mastery of the art of losing.

Jill Hendrix