8. Being present with the discomfort of grief - Mark Pierson

Oftentimes when we are grieving we don't know how to be present
with our pain. We want it to go away, and in doing so we miss the
opportunity to be present with ourselves and to become aware of
what are our deepest needs are.


Other times, when someone is grieving our first response is to DO
something, because as human being we are uncomfortable with
someone else's pain. So we try in may ways to make them feel
better, but in doing so we fail to acknowledge that often the
only thing we can do is to be present with them in their distress
- no biblical jargon or empty platitudes, just simply be with
them in their pain


Mark Pierson has some great insights in what it means to be
present. We can only be present with others when we learn to be
present with ourselves. And that takes time, self awareness and
intentionality.  


Here is the quote Mark shared during our conversation:


"Wake me to your presence Lord, that I might not waste my
times of trial"


Mark is lead curator/pastor of Rhythms of Grace, a "slow church"
community in Auckland, New Zealand, where they practice spiritual
formation and talk about the hard things in life in light of the
presence of God. To find out more about Rhythms of Grace or
Mark's pastoral care ministry, please email
mark@markpierson.org.nz


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Light and peace, 





Tatiana