That is the question that came to me after Bible study this morning.
We are studying Matthew 8: 26 - 9:1 which is about Jesus encounter with the two men who were living in the tombs who were demon possessed. It is quite a story - the one where Jesus tells the demons to GO and they go into the pigs who then are drowned. What a story.
Eventually we ended up talking about the pandemic and how hard it is. One of the women talked at length about the pain she is encountering at work dealing with people who are out of work. Who can't pay their bills, who are waiting for unemployment. Frustration and pain.
And as she spoke I heard her pain. It is the pain many of us are feeling who see how hard and scary this is for so many people. We may be inconvenienced but they are really suffering. And what all of that means is PAIN for everyone. A problem that cannot be fixed but only endured right now.
As she talked today, it was clear to me that the only thing we can do with our pain is feel it and express it and hope that someone can hear us. Like the demoniacs in the story, Pain isolates us and deadens our spirits. I hope and pray that we heard her this morning. And that I hear others who come to me. I cannot fix or advise - but I can listen.
And what else can we do? We can pray. To the God who is real and hears us. I pray when I sing, when I write, when I sit in silence, when I speak words out loud. There is no real trick to praying - it is just an act of placing ourselves before God and allowing the thoughts and words to be expressed.
My friend, Susan, put this wonderful poem by Mary Oliver in her blog. I love it.
Praying
It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest, but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
What do we do with our pain? We feel it, we speak it, we pray it.
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Oh my gosh! Well, I needed that little poem and your sweet words of encouragement. I was at church in the garden yesterday and Debbie Mansfield was there with food to hand out and offered Cora and me some things. I took some oranges and a pineapple that I really didn't even need and today I'm wondering why. So, I called my neighbor who is the Grandma who just adopted her 3 little girl grandbabies when her daughter overdosed in front of them. She is a construction worker and apparently able financially I guess to care for them, but she was the closest one I could think of who could use them better than I could. It occurred to me that I actually don't know anyone as a personal friend who is in need like the multitude of people I see on tv. I guess I wonder what's wrong with that picture. I've felt like ruminating myself this morning as I go through too many clothes, etc. and have all that I need and more. I guess it's about feeling the pain of others and myself as I miss my community and my kids. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Love you.
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