In Good Company

Like Roberta, who wrote for this blog last week, my heart is also heavy.  At this point, I actually hate to tune into the evening news.  We are bombarded with one story after another of our brothers and sisters suffering in some part of our earth – Iraq, Palestine, Africa, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ferguson MO, and it continues.  So many places of humanitarian crisis!  Despite feeling utterly helpless, I am able to hold all these suffering people in my heart and prayer.  I know that our caring, compassionate God is with them.

Fortunately, the last 5 minutes of the evening news does have a story about people who are making a difference in the lives of their brothers and sisters in their communities.  I am also encouraged by a poem written by Kaye Ashe, OP:

The search –

for self,

for wisdom,

for love,

for truth,

for justice,

for God –

is strenuous and unending.

We need good companions

in order to persevere in it.

In good company,

in a community of conviction,

the quest never loses its relevance,

its urgency,

or its savor.

Are you finding it difficult to cope with the suffering of others?

Have you found good companions to help you persevere?

Anne Sur, OP  
East Dubuque, IL