Lent 2021, Day 10: Previously On.

On yesterday’s episode of Disney+‘s WandaVision, viewers were walked through some of the most momentous moments of Wanda Maximoff‘s (Elizabeth Olsen) life. Momentous and tragic: violence, death, lies, and loss. Through it all, we see how old TV sitcoms play a major role of happiness, calm, and familiarity for Wanda. Her world literally collapsed around her, yet the show went on.

At one point, Wanda watches an episode of Malcolm in the Middle while talking to Vision (Paul Bettany) about the loss of her twin brother, Pietro. Despite being a synthezoid, Vision gives a very empathetic response, providing comfort and space for Wanda to grieve, saying:

“What is grief, if not love persevering?”

I have never viewed grief in such a way, and I was so moved that I rewound the scene more than once.

I’ve lost my sister and my dad, and well-meaning people, both times, tried to rush along the grieving process. I knew instantly when Jos died, there would be no set “end date” on the pain I felt in losing her. She died, not my love for her. Although with the passage of time, the tears have slowed and the disorientation of knowing my little sister is gone visits me less, I still grieve. What was acute, is now chronic.

Over the past year, the world has suffered greatly due to COVID19. Over half a million have died here in the United States. Millions lost their jobs or saw their incomes cut, schools have been shuttered, and families and friends prevented from seeing each other in person. With the vaccine numbers going up, I’ve seen a spate of headlines about the hopefully imminent return to “normal”, or at least normal-ish.

Just know that it’s okay to grieve as we persevere.

• Pray for those in mourning.
• Consider donating to a charity that is helping those in need due to COVID.