Expressing Lament in a World of Conflict

Nicholas Wolterstorff on grief, lament, and hope for the eternal

Sunday’s morning edition of the New York Times featured a transcribed interview between Pete Wehner and Nicholas Wolterstorff. Wehner is a former presidential speechwriter for Bush 43 and currently contributes to the NYT and Trinity Forum. Nick Wolterstorff is not only a retired philosophy professor from Yale, but also a distinguished alumnus of John Calvin’s College.

During my time at Calvin, we also read Wolterstorff’s Lament for a Son, a moving reflection on the premature death of his son, Eric, during a mountaineering accident in the Alps. Since that time, Prof. Kevin Corcoran has taught the book among inmates pursuing continuing education at Handlon state prison. During one semester, Wolterstorff—who was living out his retirement in Grand Rapids—made time to attend the seminar. Here is his reflection on that experience:

It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. It began like this. There are about 20 guys there. They had copies of the book. They were lined up asking me to sign them, which I did. And then they would say to me: Professor, we are so honored that you have come to talk with us. Now, I’ve taught philosophy for 45 years, and I’ve never had my students lining up saying that they were so honored that I was there to teach them.

Then Kevin made some introductory comments and threw it open for discussion. And first, I was totally baffled as to what was going on. Then it became clear to me: They were not reading this as Nick Wolterstorff’s lament. They were reading it as their lament. They would read a passage, and then they would say: I murdered my wife. I killed my best friend. And then one of them finally said: Nick, before we read this book, we were in grief, but we didn’t know how to talk about it, to express it. You gave us the words. I think that’s also been true for a good many people. It gives them the words, it gives them permission, and it gives them the words.

What stands out to me is Wolterstorff’s realization that his work provided a common vocabulary for these men to publicly express their grief. Rather than being a strictly personal or therapeutic expression of sorrow, lament allows groups to express their grief over a present injustice with a greater hope for future justice and reconciliation. May we also learn to authentically witness, remember, and address the pain of those suffering injustice in our midst.