Reassurance

We live in an uncertain world.

And none more so than Zimbabweans. It has been our experience in recent years that we wake one morning to find the fundamental rules of our lives and society completely changed, by decree. Without warning. Without notice. For instance. One day we have a mad currency and seventeen trillion in the bank and the next that is utterly useless (not that it wasn't before) and we are borrowing someone else's currency.  That day, everyone from richest to poorest was equal. We all had nothing.

Consequent on that particular change most businesses are severely under capitalised, including the banks ... so they have no funds to lend .... its a vicious circle.

And I have spent the last two and half years working with clients to find ways of recapitalising their businesses to keep them viable and functioning. Presently I am working hard with a client who is attempting the near impossible - to significantly grow in our near moribund economy. The effect has been to stretch her resources to breaking point and she teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. Either she is going to make a mint or go down in flames. She will need more than sound planning to make this happen .... she will need those indefinable qualities of courage and hard work and perseverance and, I beleive, a large slice of luck or grace.

The most difficult thing, when she and I work together, is not to offer trite reassurance. It would be so easy to say "it'll be alright" and "don't worry" and  "it's gonna be fine" or "it will work out". Verbal pats on the arm. I don't know any of these things for certain and saying them is not only wrong but unhelpful. My client needs me to walk with her, participating in her problems, being part of the solution, being a listening post as she faces her worst fears and dreams her best dreams. This is how I see my work as a professional.

As things have become more and more difficult for her I have wondered at the nature of reassurance in such an uncertain world. In a wider scope how do we offer reassurance to those who need it, and what sort of reassurance do we need when life gets hard?

And most of all, how does God offer us reassurance in the midst of our uncertain lives?

High Holy Days

I've had a severe bout of flu these last few days and so have been too ill to attend any of the Triduum Masses. It is the first time in years that I have missed the Triduum, which was the moment I fell in love with the Easter Liturgy as Catholics do it. It was a long faltering hop from here to wanting to become a Catholic, but this is where the desire to do so crystallised into consciousness for me.

Instead I have had a very different kind of Easter. Prayed alone for the most part.

This morning I have stood by our east facing windows and watched the sunrise, remembering……

Remembering Easter in Jerusalem some thirty years ago, sitting with other pilgrims from all over the world in the "Garden Tomb" gardens waiting for the dawn.

Remembering Easter as a small child, walking with my Grandmother down to the river and watching for the dawn, followed by sausage in gravy (kept hot in a thermos flask) on fresh baked bread.

Remembering climbing a small hill overlooking Kariba Lake in the dark as a teenager to celebrate the Risen Lord with my youth group in the first light of dawn.

Remembering those Easter's when the only prayer that made sense was "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

Remembering Easters gone by shared with family and friends, ordinary love filled holidays …….

Remembering that the High Holy Days are about remembering, as is the Eucharist. Remembering that as God has been with me in the past, so He will remain in my present, regardless of whether I am able to recognise that or not.

In my remembering I felt the loneliness of this year's Easter, celebrated by myself. Yet, in the gathering dawn I knew I was not alone, that around the world faithful people of all shades and understanding would be gathering to remember and to celebrate, just I am doing alone. And my prayer turned to my friend Theresa who was received into the Catholic Church last night. Her journey to this point has been long and arduous but joy filled, especially these last few weeks.

And so with the Christian world I can say this morning

The Lord is Risen!

He is Risen indeed!

Allelulia.