Over the past six weeks, there have been countless conversations in my life that touch on conflict, broken relationships, forgiveness & reconciliation. I have been thinking about it all, and trying to formulate thoughts and a framework of what is right.
And then another friend tells me of another broken relationship.
Each one is different. Each one is terrible.
And every time, I'm left with nothing to say.
It is hard to see this brokenness in my own life. I'm not without damaged relationships. I've caused hurt in the hearts of people I care for. But I feel utterly helpless when terrible things happen in the lives of others. There is nothing I can actually do to fix things. I can stand with them, pray for them, cry with them, talk with them - but even all that seems inadequate at times.
In the summer of 2004, I remember sitting on a makeshift bed (I spent the summer sleeping on an air mattress in a basement of mould) with a friend, crying and talking. At the time, neither of us had much use for swear words or harsh language, but when she was trying to say, "Sometimes, life just sucks," what actually came out was, "Sometimes life just shits."
Which is pretty much the truth.
We collapsed into laughter at her unintended truth. It still makes me chuckle, and I think that is okay. Because even in pain, there are times to laugh. As I learned in the sub-tropic jungles of Florida, when covered in over 100 mosquito bites and unable to lay a level brick, "We laugh because we must not cry."
(Sarah & Sarah, the jungle reference was for you two...)
Skipping the death part, because death isn't the only occasion for sympathy (starting around :36), comedian Mike Birbiglia has a great idea for sympathy cards. I would buy one.
When it is time to speak words of solidarity, this is the song that is circling in my heart.
And then another friend tells me of another broken relationship.
Each one is different. Each one is terrible.
And every time, I'm left with nothing to say.
It is hard to see this brokenness in my own life. I'm not without damaged relationships. I've caused hurt in the hearts of people I care for. But I feel utterly helpless when terrible things happen in the lives of others. There is nothing I can actually do to fix things. I can stand with them, pray for them, cry with them, talk with them - but even all that seems inadequate at times.
In the summer of 2004, I remember sitting on a makeshift bed (I spent the summer sleeping on an air mattress in a basement of mould) with a friend, crying and talking. At the time, neither of us had much use for swear words or harsh language, but when she was trying to say, "Sometimes, life just sucks," what actually came out was, "Sometimes life just shits."
Which is pretty much the truth.
We collapsed into laughter at her unintended truth. It still makes me chuckle, and I think that is okay. Because even in pain, there are times to laugh. As I learned in the sub-tropic jungles of Florida, when covered in over 100 mosquito bites and unable to lay a level brick, "We laugh because we must not cry."
(Sarah & Sarah, the jungle reference was for you two...)
Skipping the death part, because death isn't the only occasion for sympathy (starting around :36), comedian Mike Birbiglia has a great idea for sympathy cards. I would buy one.
When it is time to speak words of solidarity, this is the song that is circling in my heart.
"the world is messed up man." I like his idea. that's actually quite funny!
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