Many of us arrived this evening with heavy hearts for the current state of the world as we know it from the media. A few of us are in the midst of very challenging times with our families and loved ones. Many deep and honest feelings and struggles were shared. It can be very difficult to find explanations or words of reassurance to say to our children when they are struggling with making sense of bad things that happen in the world. We hold fear within for the unknown future, and wonder what is necessary for love to grow and peace to come to our world.
How can we be hopeful in times of spiritual pain and darkness? Some of us find inspiration in others. Some of us see such times as opportunities for spiritual practice. Most of us need others to be with. More than anything what we seem to need is to know that we are heard, in the depths of our despair and fear, no matter where we are. Speaking our pain in messy, unedited language – with no holding back – is necessary before another can be truly present in ways our heart longs for another to be. This is so humbling and puts us in so much vulnerability. Even if another truly feels or understands our pain, there are often no good words to say to express their wishes that we be lifted from our burdens, pain or fear. Spoken language has such limitations.
Every day acts like putting up a Christmas tree can be intentional, hopeful witnesses to goodness. Bringing food to an exhausted caregiver, sharing tea with a friend, and other simple acts of kindness all convey to another that they are not alone. Laughter with those we love and whom we know loves us – is a balm. It feels terribly inadequate, but assuring our children that though we hear their fears and cannot make them all better, that we will never leave them, may be the most we can give them. Our hearts yearn for it to be enough.
One of us shared wisdom from a favorite writer’s image of our role in life, in community, being one of walking each other home. When many of us – when a lot of the world – is discouraged, we need enough of us with hope left for the rest of us to look to for Light, for words and inspiration to cling to, until it returns to our own hearts. We are grateful this evening for those in our lives who are joy-filled, who have stories and images to share of yeast, hope, beauty and light in the darkness. We are incredibly grateful for this circle where we truly feel that we are walking each other home.
Our next gathering will be on Monday, January 4, 2016 at 7pm in the Community House. We trust that in being present to each other, we will find our theme for the evening’s sharing. All are invited to join us.
Gretchen Baker-Smith, convener