Jeremiah 29:5-6 Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
This was part of God’s instruction, spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, to the Israelites while they were in captivity in Babylon. To me, Jeremiah is saying, “Relax, enjoy the fruits of your labor, go on with life … it’s going to be okay.” Jeremiah lived during tumultuous times. The Southern Kingdom of Israel, known as Judah, had been conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and under King Nebuchadnezzar II the Israelites were taken into captivity. They were forced from their homes, and all that they held dear, and were “resettled” in Babylon. How horrifying to witness the destruction of your home country, to see friends and family die in futile attempts to protect the land, and then to be forcibly deported to parts unknown. How would one heal? How could you possibly begin again? And yet, Jeremiah encourages the remnant living in captivity to do just that.
The first Noble Truth in Buddhism is that life includes suffering. This is not meant to be a downer, but rather that acceptance helps to bring healing. No one gets a pass on suffering and loss! While not in equal measure, to be sure, but suffering in its many forms hits us all. In times of my own great struggles, my mind has often lapsed into “if only” mode. If only this hadn’t happened, then I could have done so much better with that. It’s so easy to wallow in misery. We become angry at our own life injustices, and our thoughts fixate on loss and misfortune. Bitterness is the end result.
God’s admonition to the Israelites rings true to us, even now. Keep living – build, plant, settle, marry, celebrate, begin anew! This reflection isn’t meant to downplay anyone’s personal story. Traumatic experiences are truly life-changing. We carry scars from those times for the rest of our lives, and often professional help is needed to navigate our loss. Still…with God’s help, there is living to do! Dear Lord, may we nurture one another as we make the most of your beautiful gift of life! May we celebrate your many blessings, even as we mourn our individual losses.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Diana
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