What It Is Supposed to Look Like (06/18/2025)

Last evening, a group of 8 of us met for grief support. We began with prayer asking for the courage to share and to support one another. The 90 minutes together were marked by open sharing, some tears, some laughter, hugs, and outreach both spiritual and physical. And we ended with a prayer sending us back into the world to cope. As I walked to turn off the lights in the hall, I looked back at those gathered, still talking, still consoling, a cohesive group punctuated by a hug or two. And I said to myself, this is what life is supposed to look like.

Last evening, as I sat on my porch and reflected on the day, filled with a meeting with a friend and spiritual sister to plan a woman’s day at our parish, a daughter’s visit, dinner with my two daughters, a grandson and my husband, and then the support group, the LORD underscored for me the importance of relationships in our lives and of loving accompaniment and companionship.  We are created in relationship and for relationship. And for the longest time, I sat and savored the relationships that had graced my day and asked for the Spirit’s guidance in guarding and growing them.

As I reflected upon my day further, I gave thanks for the opportunity to work with another to bring an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and spiritual cultivation to others. I gave thanks for my family who cares for me as I try to care for them and whose love has shaped me more than they will probably ever realize. I gave thanks for the members of the support group who reminded me most poignantly that life is about loving the LORD and one another and recognizing that love makes us vulnerable as we know from the cross but it also opens us to a joy that only flows from true love. I thanked the LORD for these opportunities, these relationships, these gifts of the day.

As we continue on our spiritual journeys, may we seize every opportunity along the way to accompany others, to share with them both the joys and sorrows of “the Way” lovingly and openly, and may we allow the LORD to massage our hearts and souls through the love of and love for others.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.