The Unquiet Bones

by Loreth Anne White

We live in a society that places high value on resolving problems, on finding solutions, on ‘getting over’ things quickly. But when society is faced with people who are missing, there’s a disconnect, a discomfort. They don’t know how to cope with people who are missing loved ones, or with situations that actually have no answers or resolutions. We should not be forced to chase closure,” she warns. “What we need to find are ways to coexist with our complex feelings, and to always remember that our reactions are completely normal.” She glances at Jane. “They’re not a sign of personal weakness.”

No person ever acts purely selflessly because humans are fundamentally wired to be self-interested. It’s basic survival instinct. Those who do charity are self-interested in their own godly salvation. They seek to be seen doing good. They crave admiration from their peers. Or they want to soothe some unarticulated guilt over their own privilege or wrongdoing.