Job 16:20 – My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God.
I have been thinking a lot about grief recently. Our church family has recently lost treasured members, and others still express grief from long-past losses that linger into each new day. Grief never completely leaves us, does it? I am also personally learning about a new type of grief, or at least new to me. There comes a time when anticipated loss brings about grief. When a family member or friend is very ill or in distress, the vulnerability of their life sets in. Sometimes grief begins long before a loss, in the knowing that “that day” will come. Prayers are prayed, support given, love in all its forms shared – with the knowledge that each moment with that person is treasured and time limited.
Richard Rohr’s book entitled The Universal Christ records the extraordinary experience of author Caryll Houselander who had a revelation while riding the underground train in London. She quite inexplicably began to see each passenger on the train as a vision of Christ. He was everywhere, and in every one of the passengers. When she emerged from the underground train and onto the street, the vision continued. Again, she saw a vision of Christ in each passerby on the sidewalks. In that moment, she felt a powerful oneness with all of humanity, and in that oneness – profound love.
Her vision has stayed with me since reading Rohr’s recounting of her experience. How might my life change if I saw Christ in every person I encountered? What if my human interactions were based upon the belief that I was interacting with Christ himself? I’d like to believe that I’d listen more, that my perception of needs would be heightened, and that I’d love more purposefully. Not that I’d be on my “best behavior” while interacting with Christ, but that I’d perceive needs better in my heightened awareness of our collective humanity, our collective grief.
Our focus verse from Job is a comfort to me. It gives God equal footing as friend and intercessor. Dear Lord, we thank you for your friendship and abiding presence in our lives! What comfort there is in that realization! We pray for increased awareness of those in our midst who quietly grieve. We ask for your wisdom in lovingly reaching out. May we also pause to acknowledge our own quiet grief and our need for Your presence as we navigate the days to come.
Love to all,
Diana
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