Today we continue with a section of "Let the Bones Dance" that is called "Disposition of Compassion: Embodying Tragedy" - Marcia W. Mount Shoop. Compassion "feels with," and it keenly tunes in to tragedy, not to blame and judgment. Tragedy feels the pain of loss as well as the strength of survival. Compassion embodies indignant suffering. It disposes this indignant suffering by pouring presence and indignation into suffering. Compassion is not afraid of grief; it inhabits shared, mournful moments of discomfort. Its consolation is in its very presence, not in its capacity to perfect. This presence is not passive; it resists destruction and despair with its indignation. Somehow suffering will not have the last word. When suffering has been endured there does seem to be the presence of compassion. Someone - somewhere, knows and sees pain and anguish and despair and they are present. Very often it is with a simple touch within that grasp of tragedy that can tear our hearts out. That touch - that presence, can be enough to pull us through the worst of situations. That presence is a statement that is made to those who are experiencing tragedy. I also must agree that such presence "resists destruction and despair" with the understanding that tragedy will not prevail - ever - so don't even try! As compassionate people we are to exhibit the kind of bravery that will stay put even when illness and death and brutality try to push us away. It is not always easy and it can be painful to those who act compassionately on behalf of others - because we are drawn into the other persons tragedy. Tragedy is never easy to view or visit or enter. And yet, as we hear so often in Scripture, suffering will not prevail and as we hear in today's piece: "suffering will not have the last word." Connection: Thanks to those who stay with us in times of trial. We may all say that our lives are full of things to do and thing through which we must 'just make it.' And yet, so many folks then make the time to be present with those in need. What a blessing we can be to others. Gather us as one, O God, that we will sustain those whose life is flickering and close to being extinguished. Encourage us to open up our lives to those who long for the simple presence of another person who may simply and silently stand with them. Amen. |
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