Reaching out a hand

Today I want to share with you how much a book has influenced me in ways I couldn't have imagined.

Everything we read exerts an influence on us, for good or ill, and leaves us changed - albeit imperceptibly.

Books certainly have the ability to take us into 'Another world'

Particular books stay with us and never seem to want to leave. Their savour and flavour linger on long after the last page has been read.

The book with the biggest influence on my life is the Bible as it has been literally life-changing and transforming for me and it is an inexhaustible treasure to those who seek to mine its depths.

After reading  'Wrecked' by Jeff Goins  -  a heart-rending account of his own personal journey to be compassionate and a call to others to heed the cry in their own hearts - I had a great challenge to my own idea of compassion in action. 

If you haven't read it yet then I urge you to do so if you are not afraid to have your preconceptions challenged about how to care for those in need. It certainly moved and affected me greatly.

Reading by its very nature can be a solitary pursuit but this book encourages us to action, to get out there and make a difference in the lives of others.

Nothing beats face-to-face contact and getting to know people as they really are. Indeed, deep down, we have a need to know and be known like that by those who we trust.

We all need love and acceptance and to learn how to give that to those with whom we connect closely.

But what about those who we don't know yet, those whose lives are lived in isolation from ours and whose needs are greater than we may imagine - can we give to them too? It is sometimes easier to be compassionate towards strangers as it can help us feel good about ourselves and may have less emotional complications too.

The art of compassion is to be merciful and caring toward others - to reach out a helping hand.

We cannot all be the ones who 'Go' but we can learn to live a lifestyle of compassion. Then we can come to the point where we ask God to 'break our hearts for what breaks Yours' as depicted in the Casting Crown song 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners' below.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop" ~ Mother Teresa

 As usual, when deeply moved by something, I have turned my thoughts into a poem about heeding the call to be compassionate. I hope it will stir you too. 

Further reflections and suggestions about living a lifestyle of compassion will follow in a future post, as I am only scratching the surface here by opening up this topic.

'Reaching out a hand'

Tossing coins from our pockets

shelling notes out from our wallets

or donating via a form;

Yet we can remain

strangely unaffected

by the desperate 

and forlorn.

From Indifference set me free.

I want to hear

I want to feel

I want to know

I want to see

I want to care.

Lord, break my heart 

with what breaks Yours.

Let me be Undone

Unable to stay the same

Unable to turn away

My own world torn apart

as I drink the cup -

of suffering before me

and open up my heart.

Encourage me to follow

in Your footsteps of Love

No matter where they lead

No matter what the cost,

To be wrecked inside

by the detritus of lives

I'd previously ignored - 

To seek to help the lost.

©JoyLenton2012

A prayer:

Dear Father,
We often feel so impotent in the face of suffering.
Please show each one of us what we can do to help others.
Fill us with your love and compassion
as we strive to follow the example of Jesus,
to be His hands and feet
to the needy, poor and hurting in our midst.
May our hearts become softened 
by Your Spirit
and willing to be obedient 
to Your leading and guiding
as You call us to 
reach out a hand
to those whom You 
love and died to save.
Amen

Broken hearts..broken lives

Hi,
Welcome. You are invited to consider something important with me today.

If we look at the image here it is a recognisable symbol of a broken heart and probably a broken dream to accompany it. 

Familiar to many.

Most of us try to hide our pain, our brokenness, as best we can.

Others literally 'wear their hearts on their sleeves'.

Last night I was privy to another person's pain and I couldn't ignore it.

When a Twitter message entered my stream it roused a degree of curiosity and concern. 

I tried to ignore it and read on. But I felt compelled to take it seriously. 

It purported to be a note of intention to commit suicide.

I read it
I replied
I thought.
I prayed.
I wrote a poem.

The thoughts wouldn't go away. I couldn't ignore it.

During the course of my nursing career, and through personal experience in the family, I have witnessed and been affected by people who have had intentions of self-harm and suicidal tendencies. 

Very sadly, some have been successful in following through with their intentions. Each left an indelible mark on those left behind.

All of us need to realise - 'there but for the grace of God go you or I'

Most of us have experienced a broken heart or broken relationships to some degree or other. Discouragement is common and Depression too.

We live in a fractured, selfish, 'It's all about me', driven sort of world that often has little patience, time or sympathy for the hurting. Our cries for help may be overlooked by carelessness alone, never mind indifference. 

We may have to make an effort to stretch out a hand of support, comfort or empathy to:

Those who may be unemployed, sick, poor, marginalised, lonely, lost and weak, devastated by circumstances beyond their control.

Yet God wants to bestow on us 'a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair' ~ Isaiah 61:3

It helps to know that there is no pit so deep that God cannot pull us out of - if we surrender to His care.

Take your pain to Him - He can handle it and bring relief, peace and strength. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain

The poem below is not sweet, nor polished or easy to read. You might want a stiff coffee or something first. 

It is a raw attempt to see into the mind of a potentially suicidal person, through the power of imagination, and feel their pain. 

Suicide is commoner than we might like to think. Our young people are particularly vulnerable to it, but all age groups are at risk.

We are all connected by virtue of our humanity. Could we be the ones to answer someone's heart-felt cry?

'To Whom it may Concern'

I'm reaching out,

my soul is bared.

A message sent - 

As if you cared.

Cry from the heart,

rending tears that fall.

In a silent whisper - 

"Do you heed my call?"

What does it take

to shake your core?

Given all I have -

I can do no more.

Too many voices,

clamouring for Attention.

Why should I think - 

I would get a Mention?

A letter's been penned;

It could even be read.

Though by the time that happens -

I just might be Dead.
©JoyLenton2012