Prayer and Navigating the Pain of the World

in GEMS6 days ago

These days, more and more people seem to be struggling to keep mind and spirit balanced in our turbulent world.

And if you sometimes feel like you're alone in feeling a bit "off center," let me reassure you that you're not.

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In an article I read earlier from Tim Brinkof, he says:

"The German language, a popular saying goes, has a word for everything. There’s Schadenfreude and Zeitgeist, of course. But it’s perhaps time we get more acquainted with Weltschmerz, a word which literally translates to “world pain.” Coined by the German writer Johann Paul Richter in his 1823 novel Selina, Weltschmerz has been used by scholars to signify a unique type of sorrow that is linked not to personal hardship but the hardship of others: not to one’s own misfortune, but the misfortune of the world at large."

Evidently, there are psychotherapists who are having more and more clients who are struggling with this, and Cynthia Shaw (a clinical psychotherapist in New York) said the following when she was asked about how we can manage this distress without compromising our moral values:

“One of the hardest parts is walking the line between validation and paralysis. You can’t reassure someone that everything will be fine, because they’re right, some things aren’t OK. And yet, staying in a perpetual state of despair isn’t sustainable either. So, the goal in therapy isn’t to ‘fix’ the world, nor the person. It’s not about not caring. It’s about figuring out how to care differently.”

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As a Minister and Trauma Recovery Specialist, I can stroll into that room and sit down with each of these people, take their hands into my own, bow my head and begin to pray with them.

Now, more than ever, the fine practice and healing balm of prayer is needed.

For those of you who laugh, scoff or shrug regarding how ineffective and even unnecessary prayer is — I encourage you to think again. You're not praying to some invisible deity in space, you're praying to send a thin thread of consciousness that can become a thick net of survival for everyone.

Energy is real. Start with that.

These are difficult times. We may not be able to heal the world in one fell swoop, but we can definitely help each other in small ways.

I appreciate your visit, and Bright Blessings to all!
~ Rev. Sarah

(An abbreviated version of this also appears on our Facebook Page)

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The White Light Express Mission Statement:

Since October 2001, the mission of the White Light Express has been to offer healing and transformation through focused positive intention, meditation and prayer. Right Thought is the first step toward Right Action and consciousness. We believe that “holding the vibration” is a profound task and our divine destiny.

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It’s about figuring out how to care differently.”

I watched a TV show where in a court scene, the judge was swift to understand how traumatized the accused person was and how more worst it would be to charge her for the petty crimes she was brought to court for. He figured out a way totally different to heal the young lady's heart. He didn't just spoke like regular people do, he offered to provide her a house for the mean time, health insurance etc so she could get back her life together. The girl instantly was shedding tears because she was almost giving up not because people aren't encouraging her but almost everyone tells her the same thing she's been hearing without results. Nobody did it differently until she found herself in the court room...
Your post kinda drew my attention back to that story, thanks for sharing..

Thank you. That is a beautiful story; appreciate you sharing it with me. Oftentimes our problems stem from the fact that we simply feel like we are not heard and we have no way out.

Bright Blessings!

Sending positive energy.

Thank you!

Bright Blessings!