Sarah and I took a long trip yesterday to gather up the belongings left behind by her boyfriend Nato at various places. It was a month yesterday that Nato left us. It was a long, sad and exhausting day. She’s a good friend, and God knows I love her. What can anyone say? I’ve been reminded that people can still say stupid things though. Nervous. Trying to lighten things up. Dumbfounded. Or just socially inept. On the one hand you can’t blame them. How often do you experience this kind of tragedy? On the other hand, there were a couple of times when I wanted to say, “Tell you what. Why don’t you do Sarah a favor and just be quite for a while?!” There was a lot of silence between us as we travelled. She brought a bunch of cds, and she said she was going to take over Nato’s ambition to introduce me to the newest stuff. Even though many shared the pain at first, the pain is most intensely felt by Sarah now. It’s becoming apparent that some people are starting to get over it or want it to be over. But my sorrowful friend Sarah has to courageously continue down that long, sad road. In many ways the rest of this journey is hers. We’ll be there for her, but the expedition before her will be most deeply understood and navigated by her alone.
The painting above is one of my original watercolors called “Lonely Winter Walker”.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
Sara, we are praying for you.
Wow. Sarah’s pain must be so deep. I agree about people saying all the wrong things – it seems like they are so uncomfortable with what happened that they don’t know how express themselves so end up being really insensitive. Then there are people who ARE just really insensitive.
I’m glad she has you and others as friends that will be there for her when she needs to talk about him, and on the days she needs to just be held; but you’re right, she will have to bear a lot of it alone. I’m praying for her.
(hey you’re an artist too! beautiful painting).
You know what, pastor? There is that long road ahead, but she is so not alone. God is closer to her now than He has ever been before and that is because He loves her and won’t allow her to make this journey by herself. He will send the appropriate people at the appropriate time to minister to her (*like you*) and what person has ever loved without saying something stupid? or insensitive? We are all working out our salvation in fear and trembling, but please let her know that even when dumb things are said or even left unsaid, that people love her and are praying for her healing, every day.
Even people like me, who don’t know her at all but am a sister in Christ.
peace,
penni
thank you penni, for your words, they are true, I am not alone,
Sarah
corrected! “alone” meaning, like I said, that we can be with her, but not understand at her level. let us always assume God is with us. thank God!
pastor!! i didn’t mean to correct you!! who am i??? yikes!
::blushes deeply::
i remember when bruce died – actually it was two years ago today – i experienced feelings i didn’t even know existed and i felt alone in them, he was my friend and somebody i came to care for, very deeply. i never felt in a more dark place but knew all along that God was sustaining me and my friends were sustaining me with their prayers…
peace,
p
You have some great, naked stuff here over the last week or so. Thanks for being the wind of the spirit.
dave, i know that you know that i am not alone, i just liked what penni said, and what you said; That only God knows my path right now…