“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Philip Pullman

Meditation: Sometimes all we need is a compassionate witness. Somebody who does not judge, does not change our story and does not interrupt. To become whole we need to tell our story in the presence of empathy and compassion. This is how we remember, even painful parts of our story. And by “re-membering” we are bringing back to ourselves parts that we cut off or disowned. And those disowned stories run rampant in our soul and unconscious, waiting to be told. Stories that had been forgotten, but that are crucial to who we are. As we tell our stories, happy ones, sad ones and even ugly ones in somebody else’s empathic presence, we learn to become compassionate with ourselves. And in that compassion for self we find liberation and healing. Yes, we need food, shelter and relationships. And then we most of all  need to accept and “re-member” all of our stories to become whole.

Prayer: Gracious God, all our stories are held in your memory. You are the one holding them for us, until we are willing and able to remember them. You are providing for us safe spaces where we can recollect stories and laugh or cry about them. You want us to be healed. You want us to be whole. Even the painful memories can be transformed in your empathic presence. God, send us compassionate listeners in your name, and we will be healed. Amen

“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3