one theme resonated last night as i walked from station to station - how even in the midst of suffering, Christ had compassion for those around him. trying to keep the disciples awake. allowing judas to embrace Him. healing the soldier's ear. keeping silent when accused. encouraging the women on the way. the thief on the cross. mary and john. the whole human race. i know how hard it is for me to even think about others when i'm struggling with my own pain. but if we truly seek to walk where Christ has walked, then we must look through our own tear-blurred eyes and see the pain on the faces around us. we must reach out with our mangled hands to help those who have lost their grip. we must walk on broken feet to those that have fallen and cannot stand. we must open out our broken hearts to those whose hearts are breaking.
Christ's incarnation allowed Him to experience as we experience, to identify with our suffering so He could help us in our pain. and sometimes it is those moments of greatest pain that allow us to connect with others. i am reminded of the lost dogs song "blessing in disguise:"
How often do we spot the angels?
Or feel the unseen hand?
Most times are tough, the going rough
Like there never was a master plan
Those steadfast doors won't open
And you pray...but you don't understand
Hold fast the hope that's in you
Don't always trust your eyes
Sometimes it takes a long time to see it as
A Blessing in Disguise
We live upon this dark surface
And God, He moves upon the deep
What is concealed will be revealed
There is no promise He won't keep
Still, we're confused by the shadows
We're awake, but we're half asleep
Sometimes the dark can move our hearts
To long for the light of the Son
And our ways don't become His ways
Until we are undone
And after you've been broken
You may not realize
That you are grace to the broken hearted
And a blessing in...
A blessing in...
You are a Blessing in Disguise
not only do our darkest moments turn out to be significant later on, but our darkness can become light to someone else.
one of the stations had a confessional, where you could call a number and leave your confession. these are recorded and then played back for people as they sat in the confessional. a powerful reminder we all are struggling, that what may appear to be indifference and selfishness may be because we are all dealing with our own crises, our own personal pain. the poem below by denver butson paints a vivid picture of this difficulty:
Tuesday 9:00 AMsimon of cyrene, minding his own business during the passover, was asked to carry Christ's cross for Him. we are to do the same for those around us. Father, give us strength.A man standing at the bus stop
reading the newspaper is on fire
Flames are peeking out
from beneath his collar and cuffs
His shoes have begun to meltThe woman next to him
wants to mention it to him
that he is burning
but she is drowning
Water is everywhere
in her mouth and ears
in her eyes
A stream of water runs
steadily from her blouseAnother woman stands at the bus stop
freezing to death
She tries to stand near the man
who is on fire
to try to melt the icicles
that have formed on her eyelashes
and on her nostrils
to stop her teeth long enough
from chattering to say something
to the woman who is drowning
but the woman who is freezing to death
has trouble moving
with blocks of ice on her feetIt takes the three some time
to board the bus
what with the flames
and water and ice
But when they finally climb the stairs
and take their seats
the driver doesn't even notice
that none of them has paid
because he is tortured
by visions and is wondering
if the man who got off at the last stop
was really being mauled to death
by wild dogs.
Æ
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Now playing: Aaron Copland - Appalachain Spring - Fast
via FoxyTunes
