Chronic pain

 

"Out Among The Stars"--Hazel Dickens

I know that many people have done versions of this song. Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings did especially memorable versions. But today I heard the version done by Hazel Dickens and it moved me. I have not heard it in many years. I think that this song explains so much of what we see on the news these days. Think a good thought for the people on both sides of the gun because neither side is the right side. If you're one of us who is getting weary bearing your burdens and your scars please talk itr out with someone and get some help.

    

"Scripture is full of lamentations because it reflects real life, and real life has moments of deep sorrow and pain..."

“When the world looks to Christians for lament, this is an opportunity to embrace the suffering of others, to join in fellowship with those who are hurting. But too often Christians are silent, or apathetic, or even combative to the lament of others.

Scripture is full of laments. There’s an entire book of the Bible entitled Lamentations. Roughly a third of all of the Psalms are forms of lament. Psalm 9: 9 reflects the willingness of God to accept our laments, stating that “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Matthew 5: 4 reiterates God’s desire for us to lament, when Jesus exclaims “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” And Psalm 34: 18 declares that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Scripture is full of lamentations because it reflects real life, and real life has moments of deep sorrow and pain. Social justice asks us to lament, because justice cannot be passionately pursued until injustice is fully understood, and known, and felt. When you feel, see, and know the pain and suffering of your neighbors, you will lament.

Lamentations are happening all around us. The sorrows of the oppressed are being communicated, but are we listening?…

…To not lament is to not understand, to not empathize, to not have compassion, to not care, and to not love. When we lament with our neighbor we offer them our purest form of comfort, which doesn’t rationalize, excuse, or shy away from the pain, but rather wholly embraces the reality of their being.
There are countless opportunities to lament, to love our neighbors: Bombings. Wars. Shooting. Murders. Racism. Bigotry. Today, lament with those who lament.”

-On Love and Mercy: A Social Justice Devotional

On Traumas and Struggles

 

Scream if you have to...

We return to a suffering world after celebrating Easter. Sins are forgiven, reconciliation abounds, we have an opportunity to try again---or I hope that we do. Please don't crash and burn when you meet the hard wall that sometimes is life. We're human, and we have human joys and sorrows. Some days begin with tears and end in laughter. If you can't carry your burdens, ask for help. Everyone makes mistakes, but try to put your mistakes and those of others in perspective. It may help to take every mistake as an opportunity to learn how to analyze without over-thinking. Try living in an "I get too..." instead of a "I have to..." world as much as you can. This is is really difficult if you work for a living or have a family or responsibilities to others, but some of your responsibilities liberate you and strengthen you and give you much to be proud of. Ask yourself if you can make what you have to do into an art or into something of beauty. 

  

"An old soul is a spiritual soul who tends the headwaters of their being, flowing and watering the garden of God in their hearts. This is your spiritual practice, that you might become the change your heart longs to see, living heaven on earth."
~Bob Holmes

Needed advice for all of us...

 

Be the person who breaks the cycle...