Give--And Receive--Consolation
Now don't take this wrong -- there will always be the need for financial aid and disaster relief. Money will always be one way to meet the suffering in the world and to offer a means by which life can be sustained. However, I can not forget one wise person's words regarding trials:
"If money ALONE can solve your problem, it is not really a disaster."
When people are hit with genuine tragedy, they need compassionate presence -- somebody willing to hear their story, to stay with them in the midst of suffering and to remind them that they are not alone.
I recall several years in my life where money alone could not provide peace of mind. It eased some worry, but the chaos in my life went deeper than "worry". There were ruptured relationships. Mental illness crept through the halls of every family gathering. We lived with a constant doubt about whether we could really count on anything or anyone ever again.
During that time (which has thankfully passed) there were two sources of consolation--the voice saying "You are not alone, I am with you." One source was God, of course. I spent hours each day in prayer, and felt miraculously empowered to wait for time to reveal opportunities for reconciliation.
The other source of consolation was when "God with skin" showed up--friends who were aware of my life's mess but who were not put off by them. We spent time together -- but the problems were not the sole focus of conversation. These consoling friends knew when to invite me to "run, jump and play" as a reminder that there was life beyond my immediate (and dire) situation. As consolation was given, the trusted presence enabled me to see beyond the apparent doom and gloom and get glimpses of abiding joy, hope and love.
Consolation does not eliminate traumas, but consolation does have the power to heal hearts that have been broken. Consolation provides the space where God's promises can take root.
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