Within a few days of my previous post, I received bad news in my family. My sister in law (wife of my husband's brother) has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
There's not much to say about that - it is terrible, it is undeserved, she is relatively young (early 50s), she has lived cleanly. Supposedly, it was "caught early" so treatment is hopeful. However, pancreatic cancer is a lousy one to have because it does not have good treatment success no matter what you do. Consider Randy Pausch and Steve Jobs.
What remains that we can do? Well, pray, of course.
What did I just whine about? Sharing personal tragedies with a group to pray about.
I am a horrible person. God reminds me of that from time to time (I'm still forgiven, but that's another issue.) Nevertheless, I shall pray and I will share it with the group. I have not yet, though, since we don't know much at this point. Just a diagnosis.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Prayers in a group
I don't understand. In choir we close the rehearsal with sharing of concerns and joys, then we pray briefly. We don't pray on each concern explicitly.
I don't like the sharing of joys and concerns. The joys are few in number - maybe 1 happy thing for every 8 tragedies. Mostly we hear of dreadful things - "my mother in law is sick," "someone I work with was in a car accident," "my neighbor's father had a stroke," etc. It is so sad and it makes me depressed.
I am a horrible person. I am supposed to overflow with compassion for these beloved children of God, but I do not feel it. I am supposed to feel closer to these people, and maybe even admire them for uplifting their friends and family in prayer. Instead it makes me depressed.
It seems like there are a few people who always have someone to talk about. Sometimes the connection is tenuous at best - "the friend of a son of someone I work with had something terrible happen to them, I'm not really sure of the details" - how can such a thing move you so much that you need all of us to pray for it? My gut tells me that for some of these people it's a chance to display their sensitivity and compassion, and thus earn the admiration of others.
I don't know what to suggest. The practice itself not really a bad thing. I just find these things much more private and intimate.
I don't like the sharing of joys and concerns. The joys are few in number - maybe 1 happy thing for every 8 tragedies. Mostly we hear of dreadful things - "my mother in law is sick," "someone I work with was in a car accident," "my neighbor's father had a stroke," etc. It is so sad and it makes me depressed.
I am a horrible person. I am supposed to overflow with compassion for these beloved children of God, but I do not feel it. I am supposed to feel closer to these people, and maybe even admire them for uplifting their friends and family in prayer. Instead it makes me depressed.
It seems like there are a few people who always have someone to talk about. Sometimes the connection is tenuous at best - "the friend of a son of someone I work with had something terrible happen to them, I'm not really sure of the details" - how can such a thing move you so much that you need all of us to pray for it? My gut tells me that for some of these people it's a chance to display their sensitivity and compassion, and thus earn the admiration of others.
I don't know what to suggest. The practice itself not really a bad thing. I just find these things much more private and intimate.
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