Dear Caminoheads,
Let’s explore the third intention of the blessing Ron’s got:
As you carry your load
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war,
so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.
In this one, I only can think on one word: Compassion. In pilgrims words “to walk on the other’s shoes”
And with being compassionate, it comes being touched. And if you are touched, your will respond being more compassionate. A circle. Nothing else to invent. I don’t know if we can change the other pain into joy, but at least, we can help them to breathe easier. And when we breathe easier, our cortisol levels go down, and we are less stressed, and with that lowering of stress, we can be more sensitive, more compassionate… A win-win that never stops… the good side of the saying “the gift that keeps giving”…
Comfort loves,
Cris
Yes, this circle model of our life activities is so often understandable and appropriate. I spent a few years trying to figure out what ‘joy’ meant. I thought I understood ‘happy’ but wasn’t sure about joy. I read books, talked to people that I felt might have figured it out and sought some miraculous enlightenment. I still don’t know what joy includes or excludes, but I did get a feeling for ‘outpouring’ and tears are one example of that behavior. Maybe the best part because I don’t get it confused with words. But it wasn’t until I walked the Camino that I experienced outpouring of tears. Completely unexpected, not from personal pain, or missing something that I was aware of, just tears as I walked along. I’ll credit that line in the prayer for allowing me to have this experience, it might have shown light on what joy includes.