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If I Were Religious, Would I Be Furious With God For Taking My Wife’s Life So Quickly?
Or, is there a bigger purpose behind the tragedy?
On Love and Realization
In the four weeks since Lorie’s unexpected passing at 66 years old, I find myself experiencing moments of intermittent rage.
Actually, allow me to amend that sentence: In the nearly four weeks since Lorie’s unexpected passing at 66 years old, I still find myself experiencing moments of intermittent rage.
Those moments of anger — all private, to now — are due entirely to resentment: Resentment over never again sharing beautiful things. Resentment over having been on the cusp of certain mutual accomplishments. Resentment over Lorie missing the recent birth of her first great-niece, an event she had very much been looking forward to due to her closeness with the mother.
Why wouldn’t I be incensed with God?
For perspective, I am a Jewish male, science-minded and philosophical but not at all religious. Though I acknowledge the concept of God is defined differently in different cultures, I believe it to be a man-made construct. That said, I am not so arrogant as to insist I know anything more than anyone else in this regard.
Finally and emphatically, I hold my strongest resentment over Lorie and I not having more time, especially considering the nature of our first meeting and how, due to our advanced years, we bucked the odds and developed a deep and abiding love for the ages that led to a first-time marriage for us both.
To the question posed, then, in the title of this piece?
My answer will be gradually unveiled.
Lorie Girsh, 43, Walks Into the Life of Joel Eisenberg, 36
As I delve into the story of how we met, understand the section heading above is to be taken literally.
It was my 36th birthday on January 14, 2000, and I swore I would never again attend a Jewish singles anything…
