The light seems elusive in the midst of the darkness. As if wrapped in a tight steel chamber, the air appears to have stopped circulating. Suffocation appears imminent. Movement difficult. The circumstances of my crisis have thrust me into into confusion, anger, and disappointment. How will I break free from this place? What direction shall I venture toward when I do? This moment; this life is not what I expected.
Comfort and resuscitation arrive. Those whose hearts have been afflicted, who have, themselves, broken out of their chambers, cross my path. It is no coincidence. They are placed there by God as affirmation that my God has not forgotten me.
Though questions remain, I am wrapped in comfort. No longer surrounded by a steel chamber, I am surrounded by a blanket of human touch.
Light has broken through. My lungs inhale the life giving air in my sphere.
Together, we eat, we walk, we pray, we cry. We sit; in silence. Gradually, I step forward toward a new “normal.” Recognizing I am not alone.
And eventually, I find myself woven into the blanket of comfort covering another. How do they know which direction to walk toward? I will show them the way.
“He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us,” 1 Corinthians 1:4
Redemption is always at work.
“…surrounded by a blanket of human touch.” What a beautiful image–and truth! Sometimes I’m tempted to crawl into my cocoon. Other times the temptation is to bypass the need in front of me because I’m simply too tired to respond. But when I remember that it’s our humanity that draws us all together into this sometimes-messy Life we live, that blanket of human touch surrounds and COMFORTS exactly as it was created. May we not miss the beautifully-woven blankets in our lives.
Thanks Susan. It is way to tempting to isolate ourselves yet we miss out on the profound way God reaches us through community.
You are indeed not alone! I’m in the 54 spot this week!
You know, I often feel I don’t get comforted in any way unless I provide it for myself. But then I remember a visualization I used to depend on and that’s where I go. I imagine God’s arms wrapped around me reminding me that even though I believe no one else is here, He is. This was a beautifully written post.
Pam, there are times when we feel that our pain is invisible to others-even those closest to us. Indeed, we will never be abandoned by God.
What a relief it is to know we are not in this alone. As the Lord reminded Paul, “for I have many in this city who are my people.” There are other pilgrims on this journey to the celestial city. Thanks for this post!
Thank you for this. God does put people in our paths to help comfort us…we just need to make sure our eyes are open to this. Thank you for helping me to be more aware of what goes on around me.