Daily Devotion - Wednesday, February 23

This is the Moment

We continue the week’s devotions using Henri Nouwen’s book, Here and Now. His writings and lectures have been a great learning experience for me.

“So much of our pain remains hidden. When we feel lonely,
do we go to someone we trust and say:
'I am lonely. I need your support and company.'
When we feel anxious, sexually needy, angry or bitter,
do we dare to ask a friend to be with us and receive our pain?”

This devotion is a tough one. Our culture tends to push us towards a journey through life's tough times in isolation. We shy away from expressing our suffering and pain outwardly. Recently I was in communication with a person who asked about joining a support group for their pain. They wrote, “I am just mad at myself for staying isolated and insisting I continue to try and change myself for three years.” That expression is how we tend to be.

I remember when I was inspired to write the book Incredibly Lonely, That's Me. I specifically asked the nine year old girl what emotion she was having the most trouble with as she worked through the pain of her sister's death. She identified her pain as “lonely”. Because she stepped out of her isolation and let a friend help her, she has discovered a sense of joy amid the pain. And... her story is now helping thousands across the North American continent. Pretty cool!

I am grateful that Melissa was willing to live in this moment!

--Ben Keckler
02.23.11