Friday, August 29
- Scripture: Psalm 126:5 – “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”
- Reflection: By acknowledging our pain, we make space for growth. Difficult challenges break open our hearts and minds, and create openings for connection. In the soil of conflict, loss, sorrow, seeds of hope and healing may arise. As Leonard Cohen wrote in his song Anthem, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
We may not be able to choose what happens to us, but we may choose how we will respond. Of course, different people grapple with different circumstances, so our capacity to overcome and thrive may be different, yet transformation arises from situations of conflict and loss.
Consider examples of people who have flourished in the aftermath of crises. What growth do you observe in their stories? What lessons do you take from such examples? What do you have in common with such role models? - Spiritual Practice Prompt: Imagine your heart with cracks in it. What forms of light have entered in the places where you have been hurt or broken or changed?
Song:
- “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash: https://youtu.be/b0cAWgTPiwM?si=AWfM8e9D8gN5IDLA
Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom. — Rumi
August 29 Daily Devotional