Today’s Reflection
Sharing the pain of another person is a deeply humbling task, in large part because there are simply no words that can make the pain go away. When the people we love pour out the woundedness of their hearts before us, our love and empathy—and our egos—yearn to respond with words of comfort, words that can make sense of it all. But, as those who have known deep pain can witness, words cannot approach the place of suffering. They cannot stem the flow of anguish and grief. They are powerless. They are as ineffectual as using stones to dam a spring: the water will find some way to the surface.
—Charles A. Parker, “Offering Silent Presence,” in Compassion: Thoughts on Cultivating a Good Heart, compiled by Amy Lyles Wilson (Fresh Air Books, 2008)
Today’s Question
Who has offered you the gift of silent presence when words couldn’t reach your suffering?
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Today’s Scripture
The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.
—Romans 8:26 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
God: With my eyes, I choose to see with compassion. With my hands, I choose to give and touch with compassion. With my feet, I choose to go where I can deliver compassion. With my heart, I choose to love with compassion. (Pause for a minute of silence, and imagine how you can show compassion today.) Amen.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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3 Comments
This is so powerful and so aligned to all I am learning in my training course.
I was fortunate to have a friend whose presence, not words, was exactly what I needed. A great confidante and waymaker for my healing.
Some tennis today – this morning with a colleague and this evening with my long time doubles partner. Team league play is off this week due to the holiday. I have quite a bit of studying to finish today, as everything is due by midnight. This is the most I have let go to the final day thus far. Not ideal, but I will be able to complete it.
Dinner with my friend last night and a walk with her dogs.
Wonderful to read your post and learn of your training. A joy too that tennis is still part of your life.
The members of the small group my wife attended came to my house the day she passed away and were silently present. Through that group I had a one on one 10 week period of spiritual growth. That was 28 years ago and still has an impact on me. Thank You, Lord.
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