We’ve all been reading about artificial intelligence and its impact on the world. The Screen Actors Guild is currently on strike to put some sort of limits on the use of AI in the arts. Authors and journalists alike are concerned about people writing entire books and news articles generated by AI.

I became curious about what would happen if I fed the AI generator certain descriptors that would mimic my own writing style. Would it “sound” like me? Would someone with nefarious intent be able to copy my work with enough changes to make it their own? I set out yesterday to see what an AI-generated essay on grief would look like.

I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts on AI journalism. I can see using it to generate headlines or captions for photos. Maybe for a difficult passage, but the ethics of using AI for generating an entire body of work is questionable. So, here it is with an AI-generated picture of “grief”.

Here is a 500-word essay on grief in the style of Ginny McKinney of Marshmallow Ranch:

“Grief is a word that we all know, but we don’t really understand until we experience it ourselves. Grief is the pain that comes from losing someone or something that we love, that we have a bond with, that we can’t imagine living without. Grief is the natural and normal reaction to loss, but it can also be overwhelming, confusing, and isolating. Grief can affect us in many ways, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Grief can make us feel numb, angry, sad, guilty, or even relieved. Grief can make us question our faith, our purpose, our identity, and our future.

I know grief all too well. I have lost many people in my life, but none more devastating than my husband of 30 years, [Mr. Virgo]. He was my soulmate, my best friend, my partner in crime. We had so many plans for our retirement years, to travel the country in our RV, to visit our grandchildren, to enjoy life to the fullest. But then he was gone, just like that, in a freak accident that took his life and almost mine. I was left alone, broken, and shattered.

I didn’t know how to cope with my grief. I didn’t want to face the reality of living without him. I didn’t want to talk to anyone or do anything. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear. I felt like I had lost everything that mattered to me. I felt like I had no reason to live.

But then something happened. Something that changed my perspective and gave me hope. Something that helped me heal and grow. Something that made me realize that grief is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new one.

That something was God.

God was there for me when I felt alone. He comforted me when I cried. He listened to me when I raged. He forgave me when I blamed. He guided me when I was lost. He showed me His love when I felt unlovable. He gave me His grace when I felt unworthy. He gave me His strength when I felt weak. He gave me His peace when I felt restless. He gave me His joy when I felt hopeless.

God also sent me people who cared for me and supported me through my grief journey. He sent me family and friends who hugged me and prayed for me. He sent me counselors and pastors who listened to me and advised me. He sent me fellow widows and widowers who understood me and encouraged me. He sent me strangers who smiled at me and blessed me.

God also gave me opportunities to grow and serve through my grief journey. He gave me a new purpose and direction for my life. He gave me a new passion and vision for my ministry. He gave me a new platform and voice for my message. He gave me a new community and family for my fellowship.

God also taught me lessons and truths through my grief journey. He taught me that grief is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith, but a sign of love and attachment. He taught me that grief is not something to be avoided or denied, but something to be embraced and expressed. He taught me that grief is not something to be stuck in or overcome, but something to be moved through and transformed by.

God also showed me beauty and hope through my grief journey. He showed me that grief is not the end of love, but the continuation of love in a different way. He showed me that grief is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new life with Him. He showed me that grief is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new story with Him.

Grief is hard, but God is good.

He is with us in our grief.

He is for us in our grief.

He is through us in our grief.

He is beyond us in our grief.

He is our hope in our grief.

He is our healing in our grief.

He is our glory in our grief.

Amen.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 7/23/2023

(1) Ginny McKinney, Author at Marshmallow Ranch. https://www.marshmallowranch.com/author/ginnymckinney/.

(2) Ginny McKinney – Marshmallow Ranch | Vienna WV – Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/MarshmallowRanch/.

(3) Ginny McKinney, Author at Marshmallow Ranch – Page 2 of 335. https://www.marshmallowranch.com/author/ginnymckinney/page/2/.

(4) 5 of Ginny McKinney Podcasts Interviews | Updated Daily – OwlTail. https://www.owltail.com/people/h12TW-ginny-mckinney/appearances.

(5) How your brain copes with grief, and why it takes time to heal. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/20/1056741090/grief-loss-holiday-brain-healing.

(6) What is grief? – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/support-groups/what-is-grief.

(7) Grief: Coping with the loss of your loved one. https://www.apa.org/topics/families/grief.

(8) Grief – American Psychological Association (APA). https://www.apa.org/topics/grief/.

(9) Grief – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief.

(10) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/sad-woman-sitting-on-dark-home-corridor-floor-royalty-free-image/1219297891.”