If you are over the age of 5 you are acquainted with mourning. Sometimes we mourn for something that others find foolish, a friend moves away or a pet dies, but such judgement by another does nothing to comfort us. As the years roll by we grieve the loss of expectations for financial stability, health, a strong marriage, a child who lives to become a productive adult, a grandchild who grows in faith, a life of purpose for ourselves.
We also grieve for who we expected to become--whether that is because we feel "unsuccessful" in finance or professional lives or in relationships, or bear the burden of soul scaring mistakes. Or because we have a sense of not having done enough. Or because we feel we have outlived our capacity to contribute.
No matter what the cause, mourning is a fork in the road. We can embrace sorrow, anger, fear, and anxiety as we continue to look to "god" or "the universe" or our families or our communities to sooth the outrage we feel at being wronged. Or we can open ourselves to the possibility that a power stronger than ourselves offers a different paradigm. A reality where the healing from our loss engages us in ways that teach us to trust, to hope, to risk developing a tender heart toward others who are wounded, lonely and overwhelmed, making us stronger and more dependent at the same time.
At the saddest and most confusing times of my life I have embraced this verse with a blind faith born of desperation for comfort, for healing, for relief from pain, loss and crushing sorrow. This may be the most important part of my journey, because God's faithfulness, comfort, guidance, healing, love and gently nurtured hope convicted me. God does what He says: Even when I'm woefully lagging in my capacity to keep up on my own. Even when my focus is distracted by worldly worries. Even when I'm far from a "perfect Christian." I am not required to be anything because God is all for me. He instructs, molds, woos, loves and draws me to be all He created me to be.
My "becoming" lasts as long as my days on this Earth. That completed, I will be allowed to join the Kingdom of Heaven in the Life Everlasting. In the meantime, I am daily blown away by God's capacity and willingness to comfort me in all the challenges of this life. And I am increasingly fascinated about how those experiences prepare me for the tomorrows of this life, long before I even see that portion of the roadway.
Comforter, Spirit of God, Guide, thank you for caring so tenderly for my fragile broken heart. And thank You for the healing, strengthening and restoration you bring to me. Help me never forget to use this new heart in being tender and strong for fellow travelers that they might find hope that by turning their faces toward You, they too will be warmly received and immediately recognize in You what they long for most deeply: love, acceptance, and a hope for tomorrow.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
We also grieve for who we expected to become--whether that is because we feel "unsuccessful" in finance or professional lives or in relationships, or bear the burden of soul scaring mistakes. Or because we have a sense of not having done enough. Or because we feel we have outlived our capacity to contribute.
No matter what the cause, mourning is a fork in the road. We can embrace sorrow, anger, fear, and anxiety as we continue to look to "god" or "the universe" or our families or our communities to sooth the outrage we feel at being wronged. Or we can open ourselves to the possibility that a power stronger than ourselves offers a different paradigm. A reality where the healing from our loss engages us in ways that teach us to trust, to hope, to risk developing a tender heart toward others who are wounded, lonely and overwhelmed, making us stronger and more dependent at the same time.
At the saddest and most confusing times of my life I have embraced this verse with a blind faith born of desperation for comfort, for healing, for relief from pain, loss and crushing sorrow. This may be the most important part of my journey, because God's faithfulness, comfort, guidance, healing, love and gently nurtured hope convicted me. God does what He says: Even when I'm woefully lagging in my capacity to keep up on my own. Even when my focus is distracted by worldly worries. Even when I'm far from a "perfect Christian." I am not required to be anything because God is all for me. He instructs, molds, woos, loves and draws me to be all He created me to be.
My "becoming" lasts as long as my days on this Earth. That completed, I will be allowed to join the Kingdom of Heaven in the Life Everlasting. In the meantime, I am daily blown away by God's capacity and willingness to comfort me in all the challenges of this life. And I am increasingly fascinated about how those experiences prepare me for the tomorrows of this life, long before I even see that portion of the roadway.
Comforter, Spirit of God, Guide, thank you for caring so tenderly for my fragile broken heart. And thank You for the healing, strengthening and restoration you bring to me. Help me never forget to use this new heart in being tender and strong for fellow travelers that they might find hope that by turning their faces toward You, they too will be warmly received and immediately recognize in You what they long for most deeply: love, acceptance, and a hope for tomorrow.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
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