In my CaringBridge post of June 3rd, 2024, I was reflecting on Joy’s recovery gains, but also noting the profound frustration and sadness she experiences when she fails to meet her own very high standards or progress in a given timeframe. However, I then observed that the fact Joy is speaking at all, is writing at all, and is reading at all, are all miracles beyond description, hence the need to sometimes step back and be able to see the forest and stop looking for the moment at the trees.
In considering “seeing the forest,” the bigger picture, I shared an observation from Henri Nouwen that I had read that morning. It reminded of my post on 3/24, Palm Sunday, when I reflected on the meaning-making of suffering.
Nouwen writes, “I realized that healing begins with our taking our pain out of its diabolic isolation and seeing that whatever we suffer, we suffer it in communion with all of humanity, and yes, all of creation. In so doing, we become participants in the great battle against the powers of darkness. Our little lives participate in something larger… Suffering invites us to place our hurts in larger hands. In Christ we see God suffering—for us. And calling us to share in God’s suffering love for a hurting world. The small and even overpowering pains of our lives are intimately connected with the greater pains of Christ. Our daily sorrows are anchored in a greater sorrow and therefore a larger hope.”
A larger hope… I like that.