Consolation

I really like the word "consolation". It means "to be" (con) "with the lonely one" (solus). To offer consolation is probably one of the most important ways that we care.

Life is full of pain and hurt. Life will give anyone all the pain that they need. It's full of loneliness and sadness, so much so that we often wonder what we can do to ever walk in joy again.

That's why, every day of our lives, we must look around us for opportunities to offer consolation.

We must console the mother who lost her child, the person with AIDS, the family whose house has burned down, the soldier who was wounded, the teenager who thinks about committing suicide, the older person who wonders why they should stay alive.

I've been thinking a lot about this, this week, especially in lieu of what happened at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to moms and dad who have lost their children.

A lot of what I hear in the media from the "experts" tries to tell us how to take away the pain. I would suggest to you that is not at the heart of consolation.

To console does not mean to take away the pain but rather to be there and say, "You know, you are not alone, I am with you. Together we can carry the burden. We can carry the grief. Don't be afraid. I am here with you."

That is consolation.

May we all be open to give it as well as receive it on a daily basis.