Daily Devotion - Wednesday, January 11

A New Year Dawns

“God has put a new song in my mouth,
it is a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
And put their trust in the Lord.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 40:3)

NOTE: Henri Nouwen was one of the finest spiritual guides of the 20th century. This week’s devotions are a small tribute to Henri, a teacher who faithfully pointed people to God.

We have arrived at the middle of the second full week in the New Year. Today I would like to challenge us to think about the tensions between curing and caregiving. A person comes to us not feeling well. They obviously want to feel better than they do. What is our role?

I would think that the obvious answer is that we would find a way to “cure” them. How might this curing be accomplished? Most generally we do this through listening. A stethoscope is a great instrument; while I am not skilled in using one, I’ve been privileged to have trained persons tell me about the things they hear. Another way we cure is through observing. A tongue depressor or an otoscope can be helpful instruments, allowing persons to gather information for possible cure. The reality is that the presenting person appears to be seeking “health” and is looking for something to help them as soon as possible. Allow Henri to offer an additional insight:

“When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.”

--Ben Keckler
01.11.12