Friday, November 18, 2016

Accompanying Each Other in Life's Changes

I always marvel in late fall when I see a tree that is almost bare of leaves right next to one that is in its full glory. It’s as if one tree says to the other, “What took you so long to change?” while the other replies, “Why were you in such a hurry to move on to winter?”

Much of our communal life, it seems, consists of waiting for each other, because we all bloom into fullness and shed our attachments at different times. Although that can cause frustration, it also makes me think of the quote, “God dwells in the space between two people.” That space between us then becomes a rich opportunity to know God in a different way.

Moving through life at a different pace than our companions calls for compassion and sensitivity as we rejoice and grieve with each other in our joys and losses. As always, nature teaches us patience as we watch the trees keep company with each other in their own unique rhythms.

No comments:

Post a Comment