Comments on: My Joy Is In God, Part II http://quakersusanne.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/my-joy-is-in-god-part-ii/ Then, oh then I heard a voice which said, "There is one, even Jesus Christ, that can speak to thy condition": and when I heard it, my heart did leap for joy. - George Fox Mon, 04 May 2009 02:44:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: cath http://quakersusanne.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/my-joy-is-in-god-part-ii/#comment-116 cath Mon, 12 May 2008 12:53:30 +0000 http://quakersusanne.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-116 You said: "For those who don’t relate to traditional Christian theology, what is your source of hope and life, and how do you speak of it to someone who suffers?" Although I am not a Christian, it would be difficult for me to say that I don't *relate* to Christian theology. I simply have not been led to believe some of it. But there are other parts that are deeply meaningful for me. My source of hope and life is in a sense that God's Light and Spirit exist in all of life, the Grace is a free gift, devoid of strings, and is given even to those who feel they are not worthy, even to those who we might think are bad people. When I suffer, I try to remember that when I am my most creative, when I can do something from a point of strength, I am working with God. I also work with refugees--some of whom have very little strength left--and to them I "speak" very little about faith and hope. I try to *be* the kind person of the moment in their lives. I try to be the one who listens, who acknowledges their narrative of pain and suffering. And then I offer my best in trying to sort out what must be done to help them along. cath You said: “For those who don’t relate to traditional Christian theology, what is your source of hope and life, and how do you speak of it to someone who suffers?”

Although I am not a Christian, it would be difficult for me to say that I don’t *relate* to Christian theology. I simply have not been led to believe some of it. But there are other parts that are deeply meaningful for me. My source of hope and life is in a sense that God’s Light and Spirit exist in all of life, the Grace is a free gift, devoid of strings, and is given even to those who feel they are not worthy, even to those who we might think are bad people. When I suffer, I try to remember that when I am my most creative, when I can do something from a point of strength, I am working with God. I also work with refugees–some of whom have very little strength left–and to them I “speak” very little about faith and hope. I try to *be* the kind person of the moment in their lives. I try to be the one who listens, who acknowledges their narrative of pain and suffering. And then I offer my best in trying to sort out what must be done to help them along.

cath

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