Portrait Of Grief

Everything about this photo is absolutely heartbreaking, but I think, in particular, the mix of sadness, concern and resolve on the face of Christina-Taylor Green’s father as he looks over at his son is in some strange way an affirmation of our ability to withstand even the most unfathomable tragedies. In an oddly uplifting way it reverses the liturgy — in the midst of death we are in life. For those of us who lapse too easily into cynicism or self-pity, it’s a powerful reminder that where there is sorrow there is also strength, and that’s something we need to consider more frequently.