(Original Post) The twelve-year old peeked into the dining room where her new step-aunt, Carole, lay on the couch, her crying body softly shaking. Not knowing what to do, yet unable to do nothing, Katherine hesitatingly moved toward the couch. Self-conscious, she sat on the floor beside Carole. She searched her mind for comforting words, words that would make Carole stop crying, words to make the pain go away. But deep within Katherine’s soul she knew no words would comfort the young mother who had just lost her husband in a tragic accident. Sitting quietly, Katherine gently took Carole’s hand in hers. They sat together for what seemed like an eternity, neither of them speaking any words. Later Carole thanked Katherine, saying her presence and physical touch had offered a sense of connection amidst unsolicited suffering. When Katherine was older she read about Job in the Bible. After suffering the loss of family and property, he was afflicted with painful sores all over his body. Friends, moved to tears by his suffering, “…sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.” God, faced with the reality of suffering, did not provide philosophy or theology. He gave the presence, the present of, Jesus. Human tragedy often calls for a ministry of presence, not words, lecture or theology. God’s gift, through us, may simply be the gift and offering of self. |
