Email: Faith or fear [AS]

You have a vivid description for the post-divorce tumult. I like vivid, clear descriptions. (I think many people do, though the more pedestrian do not.)

I think you are right that it's people's attitude or response to the challenge facing them that matters. Being afraid means one considers oneself smaller than those events; walking forward (with reasonable trepidation if not fearlessness) means one considers oneself up to or equal to the task, whatever it may bring. Perhaps faith and hope make the difference.