Am I Enough – Morning His Loss

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is the chapter where I desired to be Job’s friend.  This is the moment where I forever fixed my desire to meet this man and show him love and kindness.  As he wearies of his friends’ accusations he turns his attention to speaking of what he has lost.  It is that attention that wrote a deep love for Job on my heart.

In the midst of all that he has lost he morns the loss of his ability to be helpful to others.  He speaks of the things he valued about his youth and all of them sound so much like the very things that Christ commands of us.  He is morning the good he could do to those less fortunate than him.

Job speaks of his care for the poor and sick.  He morns the loss of his ability to help others find justice.  In the center of his grief and loss he feels deeply how others have needs that he cannot meet. 

I saw my eldest Son, Maxim live this out recently.  He is embroiled in deep sorrow and loss that is beyond his control.  I see the pain in his eyes constantly.  I also saw him set it aside when his neighbor fell direly ill and had needs.  My Son is still in pain.  He also saw a way to help others in the midst of that pain.

This is what Christ wishes of us.  This is how I must be toward others.  When I am able I must work toward aid and justice for others.  When I cannot help it should move me to a sense of mourning.  I think that those who do not know Christ or accept him need to see those who do truly emulate Job here. 

There are words that speak volumes as they translate into action.  I think that others can see Christ much more clearly through these words and I need to speak them and mean as often as possible.  It is not a sermon or lecture.  It is not quoting my beloved Bible to them.  All of these have a place and are good. 

The words I need to speak that will translate to “I love you and God loves you” are very simple.  When I see a need in others and live out these words they can be all that needs to be said for Christ to be clearly seen.  I need to say, mean, and act on one simple question as often as possible.  I need to live in the question: “How can I help?”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Job 29:1-25 

Job continued his poems and said, 

(2)  "If only my life could be like it used to be, in the days when God watched over me,  (3)  when he made his lamp shine on my head, when I walked through the dark in his light.  (4)  If only I were in the prime of my life again, when God was an adviser in my tent.  (5)  When the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, (6) my steps were bathed in buttermilk, and the rocks poured streams of olive oil on me.  (7)  When I went through the city gate and took my seat in the town square, (8) young men saw me and kept out of sight. Old men stood up straight out of respect for me.  (9)  Princes held back their words and put their hands over their mouths.  (10)  The voices of nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 

(11)  "Any ears that heard me blessed me. Any eyes that saw me spoke well of me, (12) because I rescued the poor who called for help and the orphans who had no one to help them.  (13)  I received a blessing from the dying. I made the widow's heart sing for joy.  (14)  I put on righteousness, and it was my clothing. I practiced justice, and it was my robe and my turban.  (15)  I was eyes for the blind person. I was feet for the lame person.  (16)  I was father to the needy. I carefully investigated cases brought by strangers.  (17)  I broke the teeth of the wicked person and made him drop the prey out of his mouth. 

(18)  "I thought, 'I may die in my own house, but I will make my days as numerous as the sand.  (19)  My roots will grow toward the water, and dew will lie on my branches all night.  (20) My power will be fresh every day, and the bow in my hand will remain new.' 

(21)  "People listened to me eagerly, quietly waiting for my advice.  (22)  After I had spoken, they wouldn't speak again. After all, my words fell gently on them.  (23)  They were as eager to hear me as they were for rain. They opened their mouths wide as if waiting for a spring shower.  (24)  When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it, but the expression on my face did not change.  (25)  I decided how they should live. I sat as their leader. I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.