There is terrible pain in the background of the letter below. I asked if I might use it in our parish newsletter. You will glimpse, perhaps understand, the pain. Please pray for those who do know and do understand.
God bless us with sympathy and understanding for one another.
Fr John
(12th March 2017)
“If people could see me the way I see myself – if they could live my memories -would anyone love me?” (John Green).
This is the eternal question of humanity. Maybe we don’t fully understand others because we can’t live their memories nor can we see what they see in the mirror. We can only imagine more often than not and we often forget this. We tell people to move on and let the past rest in peace but do we ever stop to think how one incident can change a person entirely? Do we ever stop to think that the person in front of us has actually lived through the trauma which we are merely imagining? Maybe this is the biggest flaw of humanity: we think we know how others feel because we can imagine. How wrong are we? Imagination is far from reality. Imagination is a flawless land of beauty and hope whereas reality is like the abandoned house that no one dares to enter. Yet we force others to live our reality.
The body is superficial, the memory isn’t, and that’s what matters. I can only imagine what it’s like to be the victim, watch the very human that destroyed you having the time of his life. I can only imagine the pain, the pressure and the slight envy. I can only imagine what it’s like to have pain because a part of you, with every move your body, cries a little louder. I can only imagine the torture, the helplessness and the little bit of hope. I can only imagine what it’s like to work endless hours with sleepless nights. I can imagine the exhaustion, the worry and the need for a little break from reality. I can imagine. I cannot say I truly understand what it’s like to be in any of those situations for that is not my reality. Likewise, you can only imagine what it is like to be me and sometimes I wonder if you saw me how I see me, how would you feel?
Maybe if we used all the time we spend imagining to listen to the person we may actually be able to glimpse at their reality.
Related Links: Popular Reads and Fr John’s Parish Newsletters
