In our mess

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm 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 a friend who cares.”

                                                           Henri J.M. Nouwen

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We walk through life protecting ourselves

For all those things

That might hurt

We do not want the full human experience

We would really prefer

To keep our distance

From all the ugliness and pain

We do not want our hearts and souls to ache

Our eyes to sting with tears

We do not want to see

Or feel

And so we hide

And we are lonely

As we stand outside the circle of life

It is only when realize

That life is difficult

And the fullness of life is only to be found in the messiness

Of failure

And failed relationships

Of fear

And enter life fully

That we suddenly find ourselves

waist deep in the muck

With others

Listening,

Sharing pain, and joy

Caring,

Being cared for

No longer alone