I cannot promise
this blessing will free you
from danger,
from fear,
from hunger
or thirst,
from the scorching
of sun
or the fall
of the night.
–Jan Richardson, Beloved Is Where We Begin

The blessing of being God’s beloved
will not free us
from suffering–

suffering that comes unbidden,
the suffering of our making,
out of our brokenness,

and the suffering we choose.

Whether we are aware of it or not,
something in us
longs to be with Christ
wherever he is,

which is everywhere
and especially
in suffering,

Something in us
turns toward suffering
to alleviate it.

If you are suffering
because of a choice you made,
don’t beat yourself up
or assume there’s something wrong
as if life isn’t supposed to be
this hard.

Trace back to that moment in time
when you made the decision 
that led to your suffering.
Chances are
some part of you 
was overcome with compassion.

That part of you
was God.

But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. –Luke 10: 33,34 (NRSVUE)

Credits and References:
“Suffering with Christ” Photo of a mosaic from the Lady Chapel in Westminster Cathedral by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.. Used with permission.
“The Suffering We Choose” by Esther Hizsa, 2024
“African depiction of the Good Samaritan” by tim kubacki. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2024.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2024.  http://www.estherhizsa.com