Bitter and Sweet Experiences

Exodus 15:26

This week has been interesting in the practice of psychotherapy. Clients have revealed the necessity for skilled care. Women having been molested or raped. Men discovering their spouse to be interested in another person as a lover. Teenagers in the midst of temptation. Visitors with hopes of becoming resident stars having to return to their home of origin. Friends experiencing pain and suffering in Haiti. Former members engaged in pre-marital counseling. Christian friends wanting to strengthen evangelism in the United Methodist Church. Diverse situations, which present evidence of the importance of talk therapy in the faith community.

Life provides bitter and sweet experiences. The story of Marah and Elim tells of Moses leading the people of Israel from the Red Sea crossing into the Desert of Shur. Three days into the journey water was yet to be found. Then they came to Marah and the water there was to bitter to drink. The people grumbled against their leader and asked: "What are we to drink." Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord lead him to wood, which is threw into the water, which became sweet. There the Lord tested them saying: "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in this eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on your any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Perhaps for the moment they passed the test, in that they then came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees around which they camped.

The destruction of Haiti is not a test from God. I do not buy that theory or thought. What happen in Haiti on January 12, 2010 is a reality check on the damage an earthquake can bring. Apparently giving no signs the crust of the earth erupted by way of its plates and people were killed and others were wounded, and health professionals from various places are among those assisting in a long term process toward healing.

A doctor friend of mine and her brother -who is an Episcopal priest are there. While Father BC (initials) has a parish there, Dr. KC (initials) travels by private plane in and out caring for people. She has been doing so for at least five years. This time having departed there on December 30, 2009, she did not go back until she had missed the traumatic earthquake and had some fun on the beaches of the Bahamas. "Go Girl!" She flew back in just before January 25, 2010 and discovered an "Oh my God" reality of life. From one of the experiences she wrote: "I got up 4:30 am and ran to the top of the hill behind the hospital. I do it alot when am not on call. This morning it was so dark I barely realized I was at the top. I had my ipod on and 'Glory Days' at max volume obscured any noise. All of a sudden I realize there were people all around me. I pulled my earphones out and realized they were singing. The top of the hill has a tree and prayer flag. Usually there are 2 to 3 Haitian women sitting or standing praying out loud. This time there must have been a dozen. When I first witnessed the ritual, I would stand back and try not to let them see me. Active religions freak me out. As I had ran right into the middle of them in the dark, I couldn't really back up so I just sat down and bowed my head like a good Episcopalian. They prayed for Port au Prince, they prayed for the dead, they prayed for the hospital, then they prayed for the people, who could not walk. Seriously. I don't know how they knew I was freaking out about the rehabilitation but God must have told them." My friend went from the bitterness of sensitivity of human lost into the sweet experience of prayer for health.

Join her and others who are praying over again the disease bound country. Father BC wrote: "The one observation I will make is that the lack of sanitary facilities-basically ways of getting rid of human waste is a HUGE problem in Port au Prince and its making a miserable situation almost unbearable. The refugee camps that are spread all over create a concentration of people in small spaces that is toxic. Being anywhere close to one of those camps is an assault on one's senses that I have never experienced before - even in Haiti. ... While most Haitians are accustomed to living in difficult circumstances, this situation is much more difficult and much more unpleasant, not to mention dangerous." Bitter will be the spread of disease. We may help by sending donations to their type of Elim, a non-profit that helps create jobs in Haiti and supports the sisters: 1000 Jobs/Haiti, Inc. 336 West Main Road, Little Compton, RI, 02837. http://www.1000jobshaiti.org/

Bitter are the stories of pain and suffering, but "tis so sweet to trust in Jesus", who suffered much for the salvation of the world. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on people through the world and provide us more instruments of salvation in the likeness of the Sister and Brother "C". Amen.