Trailblazer
Veteran Member
The meeting went okay. The day got off to a bad start since I could not open my car door on the driver's side, so I had to get in through the passenger's side. I was really worried since I could only open that one door and it is a 4 door vehicle but I was determined to go to the meeting so I went.That's unfortunate. Let me know how the meeting goes. I'm curious to find out if any (or how many) attempt to convert you.
I was also anxious since I had to drive clear over to the other side of the city and I am not familiar with the streets over there, but I was determined. I think it was a miracle that I was able to drive through downtown and up to the other side of town and find that Church. Then when I arrived, my door was magically working right again, and the door behind it also opened, so now there is only one door that does not open, but it has been that way for a long time.
Anyhow, the meeting was not what I expected. The ladies were just sitting around chatting about things they had been doing, not talking about their widowhood experiences. Then towards the end of the meeting the organizer of the group said that they used to share their stories but stopped doing that since they used to meet at a restaurant so it was hard to hear people speaking at the long table. Then she asked if anyone wanted to share and I talked a little bit about my experience since my husband passed, including all the con men from dating sites and my life situation now.
The women were older than me, some a lot older and the consensus was that they are not looking to remarry. I can understand that given their ages and life situations but my situation is a lot different. For one thing I am younger and have a lot more financial resources, and for another thing I have no children. Of course all these women had children and grandchildren, so they are not as alone as I am. My mother was widowed when she was 52, lived till 93, but never remarried, but she had three children.
Of course they said a prayer before lunch but they did not talk about God or Jesus, but nobody tried to convert me although one woman invited me to a service at that church. Of course I never said I was a Baha'i.
I am glad I went since I found out about a grief group that one off the woman is attending and another one she knows about, and both those groups are more convenient for me to drive to. They are both Bible-based, but I am curious to see what the Bible says about grief and loss. I think I am going to attend the one group that is every Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm for 10 weeks because it is out in the country not far from me. In fact, it is right around the corner from the old house I lived in for 17 years.
I have a Zoom appointment with my counselor tomorrow so I am going to ask her opinion, if she thinks it would be helpful for me or if she thinks I need it. I certainly don't want to make my feelings worse, but I do feel a need to be with other people who are in a similar situation. It is kind of disconcerting that the Baha'is don't have any kind of group support for members who have suffered grief and loss, but of course Christianity has many churches and many members.