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?
