From Forward Day by Day
Numbers 11:17 I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.
A scene from the movie Lars and the Real Girl portrays the title character Lars mourning a death. People from the community come to his home, bringing casseroles and themselves. Lars asks, “So what do I do now?” One woman responds that we just sit…together.
When we find ourselves grieving and wounded, we may be tempted to withdraw and hide. Hurting souls seem to have an initial instinct to crawl into holes.
Yet we are a people of community. God’s love present with us calls us to share our lives, celebrations, and burdens. We are proficient in celebrating together, but inviting companions in times of trial seems to be harder.
And when we are invited to share one another’s burdens, are we able to resist the temptation of offering advice or trying to fix things? Can we trust the value of sharing each other’s burdens by being present with one another and the spirit of God?
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