Well, it’s Friday finally! Thank you so much for traveling with me. It means more than you know. We had a day at work today! Felt like someone was working overtime to twist everyone counterclockwise. Ever had a day like that? I used to cry over days like that – now I cry over much more … children who should have families that love and care for them – but don’t; injustice and suspicion about someone because of the way they look, or act, or talk; families who want babies and can’t have them and teens who are pregnant and are unsure. Oh, I also cry at Publix commercials and Hallmark movies.
But Ignatius, one of my favorite “guys” said that tears were to be considered a great gift from God. In my journal, I copied these words: “I read somewhere that he mentions tears 175 times in the first part of his spiritual biography and in every single entry in the second half. Great torrents of tears. He said those tears brought him humility, intimacy with God, greater devotion, peace and strength. Ignatius considered tears to be a mystical grace.” How cool is that?
So let me ask you…when was the last time you cried? When was the last time you were with someone who cried? When was the last time you were moved to tears? When did you want to cry but fought to keep the tears away? Why do we always dab our eyes with our fingers – are fingers absorbent? (ok – I really just wonder about that!)
Let me challenge you: go ahead and cry! Remember Jesus when he was with Mary and Martha? Lazarus was in the tomb – dead – and “Jesus wept”. I have often wondered why he wept…because no one really understood who he was? Because he would have to bring Lazarus back to this earthly world? Because he loved Mary and Martha and Lazarus? The important thing for me is that he showed his humanity: Jesus wept.
Two other thoughts to sit with:
"Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again." ~ Alex Tan
"Anything can be cured with Saltwater - Tears, Sweat, or the Sea." Isak Dinesen (who wrote Out of Africa)
Now, just one more “word”…are you still practicing the habit of the examen? If so, here are 2 other ways of praying the examen. You might be interested to try:
When did I have the greatest sense of belonging to myself, other, God and the universe?
When did I have the least sense of belonging?
When did I give and receive the most love today?
When did I give and receive the least love today?
Here are two quotes by that great theologian, Colleen Haley:
ReplyDeleteTears can leave tracks on our faces - those are the places God kisses us.
All growth requires water - sometimes it comes in the form of tears.
The first thought came to me at Round Top when meg Buckley came up to hug me after morning watch and saw my streaked make-up, and said, with a very worried look on her face, "Oh, you've been crying." I said, "Yes, these are the places God kissed me."
The second thought came one day in my first year at Fbg when I was really doubting myself and my suitability as a pastor. I was crying in that really ugly way - not the sweet dainty way - and I turned the corner coming off of Llano and onto Driftwood (the street that runs in front of the church). I was praying and crying and feeling sorry for myself and everyone else who was tied me in some way, and I heard God say - very distinctly - "All growth requires water. Sometimes it comes in the form of tears."
Today's exercise made me think about the family I was working with yesterday and how some of the best work I've ever done has been with people who are crying. Hmmmmm
Loving you this day and all days - C
Your quotes on tears brought to my mind a poem I wrote when I was in high school, brought on by loss of a boyfriend :), very painful. Since I grew up near the gulf my salty tears reminded me of the salt water, the crashing waves of salt water and the tides; gave me hope.
ReplyDeleteI always say that tears are a gift from God. I said that today as I sat with a crying new mom who has a long list of problems that are very real and a very short list of options that are positive.
I wrote this in my journal in response to your post: As I listened to the new mom and literally cried with her, our "belonging to God" filled her room. I hope she could feel it too. I saw God in her face and I hope she saw God reflected in mine. We all belong to God and to one another as the family of God.
Some days my ministry includes lots of tears, others and mine. Today was one of those kinds of crazy days.
Tears for me have several purposes. I often find myself crying in church during a service or just my quiet time; not always because of what is being said,sung or read; but because I feel that God uses those moments to bathe me, clean me, heal me. I have a sense that my tears are for my healing, for feeling forgiven, for my repentance. It is God touching my heart so intimately because he knows it so well without words or thougths and he is so close.
ReplyDeleteTears have many purposes - I find they bring relief and growth. If we always have sunshine - we would have a desert - it takes water to make things grow and beautiful - Tears are water.