To First Century Greeks the very idea of a physical resurection was vulgar. After all, in their opinion the physical body was a drag on the more noble soul, and the sooner rid of it, the better. When the physically resurrected Christ returned, asking for breakfast and inviting Thomas to touch his wounds – he debunked all of that. The physical resurrection was the proof that death could be defeated.

We are unable to separate physical from spiritual – and the loss of physical contact with a loved one is not altogether diminished by the certainty of their spiritual continuance. After all, our physical bodies are the ‘User interface’ through which a meeting of hearts and minds may be expressed.

I have found myself fascinated by a kind of curiosity about the nature of the continued existence of those who die in Christ. I do not doubt it – not for one second. That said, I have a kind of fascination about what they ‘do’ in heaven and what is their experience? I suppose I shall find out one day…

The reality of coming to terms with my aching desire for continuity of relationship with a person who had moved from this life to the next raised awkward questions about my relationship with a risen Christ. In the end it strengthened my relationship with God. It deepened my understanding of a fully loving and caring relationship on a spiritual as well as a physical level really means.

I also know that no words will take away the pain of physical loss. For me the realisation that the loss I grieve is physical not spiritual helped me to come to terms with my new world

Whilst I have seen much literature on the physicality of grief and the mourning of physical and spiritual loss, I have not seem very much counterpoint of faith in a risen Jesus and the loss of a much loved person.