Thread by @rozellahw

Welcome to #slatespeak, a weekly, radical Christian forum - tonight, we’re talking about death - what it is, when we’ve experienced it, how we deal with it…It's a lot, but as @GlennonDoyle says, we can do hard things. We can do this peeps! And we are not alone.

You can follow using tweetchat.com, twubs.com, or tweetdeck.com, to enhance your experience. I'm a simple chick and I just use twitter. I'm pretty sure @crazypastor and @rev_david would have something to say about that... #slatespeak

As this is a community of faith (contrary to what some on Twitter think), we begin with prayer. So, let's pray! #slatespeak

Creator God, we give you thanks for life and for the ways that you call us to tend to it. We thank you for this community - for people across time and space who are able to gather in love and with curiosity. #slatespeak

Be with us as we explore the reality of death tonight. All of us have been impacted death and we struggle to make sense of it. Help us to listen and listen deeply. Accompany us as we figure out how to care for each other in the face of suffering. #slatespeak

And be with all the faithful departed, those who have gone before us and have gifted us with so much. We remember all who have lived their lives and breathed their last breath. Amen. #slatespeak

I am aware that tonight's topic is a sensitive one that may bring up lots of thoughts and feelings. Keep breathing, take a break if needed, and remember that you aren't alone. #slatespeak

We begin with introductions. Who's out there? Where are you tweeting from? And do you have a favorite #ArethaFranklin song, lyric or GIF that you'd like to share with us as we get to know you! #slatespeak

<<<< I'm Rozella Haydée, a spiritual life coach and leadership consultant. I am tweeting from my home city and state of Houston, TX - the best kept secret in the entire world! And I am forever feeling this #arethafranklin mood. #slatespeak

Keep the intros coming! I am a firm believer that we honor those who have died when we remember them and pay tribute to their life. Let's not sweep our feelings and memories under the rug. #slatespeak

As we go along with the conversation, I will preface a question with Q (for question) and the number. So Q1, Q2, etc... you can reply directly to that tweet or respond with A1, A2, etc. A is for answer. And don't forget to add #slatespeak

So let's begin with Q1. How do you define death? What is death? #slatespeak

I think of death in terms of transition - the end of one thing and the beginning of another. If I'm speaking in terms of my religious background (Christian), I consider death to be the absence of breath. #slatespeak

There are some INCREDIBLE responses to Q1. I love the thoughts around transition and ending, and that death isn't always about a dead body, but a dead existence. That sets us up for the next question. #slatespeak

Q2: What deaths have you experienced in your life? #slatespeak

There is something to be said about death and its connection to loss. Whether physical or emotional or metaphorical, death and loss go hand in hand. The death of a person, a dream, of a relationship, of an idea or belief can all connect to the feeling of profound loss #slatespeak

Many of us (AND I AM LOOKING AT MYSELF) don't have the time, the tools, the emotional wherewithal to sit with this loss. So this leads me to Q3... #slatespeak

Q3: Why do you think it's so hard for us to deal with, talk about, recognize death? #slatespeak

I am scrolling and reading and lifting up prayers for each person, each household, and each community in this moment that's being lifted up. This is holy ground my friends. #slatespeak

Y'all are blowing my mind. I LITERALLY cannot keep up. This conversation is so overdue. The tweets about our discomfort in our bodies, about not have space to grieve, about cultural practices that have shifted us further and further away from our mortality - all of it #slatespeak

I got more comfortable with death and with talking about death when I was a hospital chaplain. It went from being an uncomfortable and scary experience to being a holy moment. #slatespeak

I'm wondering about the tools you have to deal with death. That leads us to Q4.... #slatespeak

Q4: What images/stories/myths/beliefs inform your view of death, whether they be faith based or not? #slatespeak

I hope you're reading the responses to Q4 - so many incredible images and stories that people are sharing tonight. And another thing that's becoming apparent - so many of us are seeking tools to get through the pain. So that leads to Q5...

Q5: What tools do you turn to for dealing with death and loss? #slatespeak

I can't believe we are coming up on an hour! I have so many more questions!!!! So for our final sharing, how about we create the ultimate grieving playlist? #slatsepeak

Q6: What songs/artists do you turn to when you are grieving? #slatespeak

We have reached the end of our hour folks. But the conversation can most certainly continue.

I hope we have recognized that we are not alone in our thoughts and feelings about death, loss and grief. This community continually reminds me that we are not alone. #slatespeak

Peace and love and light to you all. #slatespeak