That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Homebound Henry

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Homebound Henry's got a tumor in his head
He wakes up every morning after dreaming he was dead
He used to think that life was boring, but now that's not the case
He turns to his wife in the evening, he says ‘Honey I'm afraid I'm gonna lose this race.’"

This first verse of the song I chose as my springboard into this always haunts me a little.  I know people who are facing terminal or chronic disease and pain.  I also know the long-term impact of nightmares on our ability to cope. Pain and trauma impede our hope and too often others just do not understand.

I know that even talking about the maladies that I face is uncomfortable for me.  I do not wish to complain or burden others with carrying my pack.  I also know that when I do not address my needs I slip into unhealthy ways of dealing with them. 

We need to be more compassionate to the ongoing pain of others.  There is a balance between enabling their weakness related to it and not showing the needed kindness.  We must not let pain be our banner but we must also care about the pain of others.  I have friends who suffer daily from emotional, mental, or physical pain.  Some of those with physical maladies have a clock on their lives. 

Since we are all on the same journey and is not a race, it does not harm us to be more compassionate and caring.  We lose nothing when we invest kindness in the hurt of others.  I would wager that instead we gain.  My obligation is not to get “my needs” met.  It is to care for others and trust that my needs will get met. 

Again, I find that following Christ is not about me.  It is about being sure that I am compassionate and loving others at any cost.  When I focus on my own pain and needs I turn inward.  That is not how we are designed, but that is all I am going to say right now. I do not want to say too much.

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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The War of Indifference ~ Pain Part 1

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have lived with pain in my right shoulder since March of 1978.  It subsided for the first time last year when I injured my left shoulder.  Please do not hear this as a complaint. It is information that is foundational to this discussion.

This is short and simple.  If I am to remain compassionate about the physical pain of others I must fight indifference.  When my heart is in the right place the discomfort or pain of others always impacts me.  I remember to use my discomfort as a reminder to be compassionate. 

When my heart is centered on my own woes I forget to be compassionate and am indifferent to others.  I have trained my mind to think of others when my own pain rises.  I have trained it to consider their pain in the midst of my own.

The lesson I need to remember is that if I do not plan to fight indifference then my pain will cause me to be indifferent to the pain of others.  My own anything must not keep me from seeing and caring about the needs of others.  It is a constant war that requires constant indifference.

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

The Pain of Others – Broken Bones (and other physical injuries)

Greetings Dear Reader,

People get hurt.  They trip, stumble, slam, cut, crack, and break.  I have a friend who has a very damaged foot.  She has been posting the activities of said foot over the last few days.  It has been entertaining.

People handle physical pain in many ways.  Some hide it.  Others make it their soul mate.  It is not my place to judge the pain of others.  It is my obligation to have compassion for that pain.  This does not mean that I have to pander to those who make pain their focus in life.  It does mean that I must care.  It does mean that I must help where I can.

It costs me nothing to listen and be kind when others wish to talk about their physical difficulties.  It costs me very little to help carry, open doors, and genuinely care.  It is easy to wish them well and follow up on how they are doing.  It is important that I engage with the pain of others.

This is such an easy place to show genuine compassion.  It merely involves listening and a willingness to help.  It requires that I step outside myself.  It requires that I see how much Christ cares about the smallest splinter or the shattered bone.  When someone trusts me with their physical pain I must not pass that over lightly.  Honesty about pain is risk 

When entrusted with the pain of others I must carry that trust with gentle kindness.  I must assure those that entrust me with it that I will not cause them further pain.  I must use the strength give me by Christ to carry that pain as he would.  He is in the pain.  He is in the need.

Distressing Disguise – Michael Card

He is in the pain, He is in the need

He is in the poor, we are told to feed

Though He was rich, for us He became poor

How could He give so much, what was it for?

In His distressing disguise

He waits for us to surmise

That we rob our brothers by all that we own

And that's not the way He has shown

Every time a faithful servant serves

A brother that's in need

What happens at that moment is a miracle indeed

As they look to one another in an instant it is clear

Only Jesus is visible for they've both disappeared

He is in the hand that reaches out to give

He is in the touch that causes men to live

So speak with your life now as well as your tongue

Shelter the homeless, take care of the young

In His distressing disguise

He hopes that we'll realize

That when we take care of the poorest of them

We've really done it to Him

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)