Love parade - the ecumenism of grief

I've been reading Wolfgang Thielmann's post on the ecumenical service for those died in the Love Parade. Telling of the tears of politicians during the service he speaks about the ecumenism of grief, about how when Nikolaus Schneider preaches about loss his words are not seen as empty - for he too knows what it is to lose a child. Such moments of mourning bring people together across confessional boundaries.

As I read it I thought again about the fact that sharing grief almost brings us closer together than sharing joy ... so sad, so important.