The OPen Heart Diary

Tears on Fire, By Dessa The Morbid Attraction to Grief:  A Reflection in Time Grief is a universal experience, profoundly personal yet collectively shared. Recent grief has brought me to reflect deeply on the role grief plays in our lives—not just as a response to loss but as a force that shapes our relationships, beliefs, and how we navigate the world. Over the years, grief has become a familiar shadow in my life. Loss after loss—family members, unborn children, relationships—has etched itself into my being. These experiences taught me to honor the weight of grief while recognizing how it can evolve into something more complex. At times, I’ve found myself clinging to grief, not just as a means to process loss but as a way to connect. There’s something magnetic about the shared burden of sorrow, a comfort in knowing someone else understands. Yet this connection can also become an unhealthy fixation, where we seek out others to validate our pain or create bonds that perpetuate the h...

  The following writing developed in response to my life in this past decade, wondering, learning and discovering GOD and myself.   At what point did we adjust what is witchcraft and what is not? We’re often warned to stay away from crystals and divination, but think about this: in the last century, we added the diamond promise to marriage—the most important relationship God established. Is that not a form of conjuring? From experience, I learned crystals can help heal and hurt, just like all carnal things do. Yet, how often do we hold a quartz-powered cell phone in our hands, conjuring up data from an invisible realm? Isn’t it a kind of magic that allows us to gather, share, and connect right now? What about graven images? Photos and depictions of Jesus are everywhere—are they right or wrong? Are we crossing the line, or is it simply part of how we express and connect with faith? Ephesians warns us of wickedness in unseen places. But Hebrews reminds us to understand ...