Spiritual Support for Families of Wrongful Death Victims in California
Death might be the most profound and powerful equalizer in the universe.
It doesn’t matter who you are, what you know, or the life you’ve lived; we’re all destined to pass away, with the only questions being when and how that happens, as well as what happens afterward.
If you’re reading this right now, you might be asking one or more of these questions. You’re also probably wondering why you had to lose your loved one.
Unfortunately, this article can’t answer those questions.
However, it can provide you with information that may provide the insight and clarity you’re seeking, namely how to find spiritual support for your loss in California.
What Is Spirituality?
This definition can differ based on who you ask, but a common explanation revolves around the idea that spirituality refers to an experience or way of thinking that helps people understand or become closer to the divine. In other words, it’s something that transcends humanity and/or our current understanding of how the world works and what it means to be alive. Spirituality is also about finding a connection with something that’s larger than yourself.
Spirituality is commonly associated with religion, and there’s a lot of overlap between the two. Generally speaking, religion can be thought of as a subset of spirituality. In other words, all religious beliefs are spiritual beliefs, but not all spiritual beliefs are religious beliefs.
In spirituality, you might ask the questions of “why are we here?” or “what’s the meaning of life?” While with religion, you might try to also ask (and try to answer) “what type of behavior and thinking is right and wrong?” or “what rituals or behaviors should I follow?”
Finding Spiritual Support in California
If you’re interested in finding spiritual support during this difficult time, there are plenty of options to consider and choose from. Which one you should use depends on exactly what you’re seeking and where you’re located. Any religious background or upbringing you had may also help decide where to start looking.
Places of Worship
This is probably the first place to find spiritual support. Whether it’s a church down the street or a mosque or synagogue across town, most religious institutions are open to individuals seeking comfort and guidance when dealing with emotional pain.
Depending on the institution, the institution may have a religious leader present during typical business hours. For other institutions, you may need to stop by when there’s a service in session or call ahead to let them know you’re coming and what spiritual help you’re looking for.
Hospitals and Palliative Care Service Providers
Most hospitals and end-of-life providers will have one or more chaplains or other spiritual counselors available for their patients and their family members. These professionals are available for a variety of services, including:
- The administration of sacraments
- Pastoral visits
- Reassurance before or after a major medical procedure or test
- Offering comfort for those facing a difficult diagnosis or the death of someone close
- Providing ethical or moral guidance
If you’re not a patient or related to someone who is a patient, it’s possible that your access to the chaplain or spiritual counselor will be limited. Yet these individuals have chosen their profession to help others, so they should at least be able to listen to your concerns and tell you about other nearby locations where you can find spiritual support.
One thing to keep in mind is that most of the spiritual support providers will have a religious background. This can be due to their association or relationship with a local religious institution or denomination and/or their pastoral training.
Many formal pastoral training programs are offered by divinity or theology programs from a college, university, or religious institution. Despite this background, almost all of these spiritual support counselors will have at least some training in providing non-religious or non-denominational spiritual support.
Libraries
Even though a library is a place to find books and other sources of information, it can be a good place to find spiritual support if you’re willing to do some research and learning on your own. For many, spirituality is best experienced by themselves, so finding books and resources on spirituality can provide the necessary tools and knowledge.
Most libraries should have a section dedicated to the topic of religion and/or spirituality with numerous books and periodicals on the subject. There may also be DVDs and other media formats with videos that can help.
The Internet
If you don’t have a local library, or perhaps you wish to start your spiritual journey in the privacy of your home, you can always use an Internet search engine to type in your questions or concerns and see what search results come up. There are plenty of videos, articles, and blog posts that discuss spirituality (the website, Psyche, is a good place to start) and how to deal with grief, especially after someone passes away.
Social Media
Many churches and religious institutions have a social media presence. This offers a great way to reach out to religious entities in a more anonymous manner, which might be something that you’re more comfortable with at this point in your life.
There will also be social media platforms that can provide more direct spiritual support. For instance, Reddit will have countless subsections (called subreddits) about the many different religions that exist today and spiritual beliefs and practices in general. The r/spirituality subreddit is a good place to get started.
Television and Streaming Apps
If your spiritual needs are focused on Christian beliefs and ideas, then there are many TV channels, streaming apps, and networks with content that might help you find comfort. Examples include:
- Hope Channel
- The Word Network
- Christian Television Network (CTN)
- Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)
- Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)
- Daystar Television Network
- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)