This paradox troubles me. It has for a lifetime. Yesterday, I heard the phrase in church. I felt squeamish--I feel squeamish. What did I do? Nothing. I left the church, and went about my business.
I was called to return that message--literally.
"Patty, will you call him? He is scared," I was told. The fear--the short-term fear--was with due cause. Yet, there is a longer-term trepidation that need not be. So, what was I to say?
Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
Easy. Offer comfort to his immediate circumstances--unnerving acts of nature.
Comfort [verb] [with object] make (someone) feel less unhappy; console: help (someone) feel at ease; reassure. http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/comfort?region=us
That is easy. Comfort resonates with the daily aspirations I have.
Yet, comfort is only half of what I am being called to do. Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
Economic dependence. Complacency toward changing that dependence. Finding a first job after college. Fear. Trepidation. These are at the core of what I am being called to address--in every sense of the word.
Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
How, in concert with my principles, and values, am I supposed to respond? Understand--understand the definition of terms.
Afflict verb [with object] (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble. http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/afflict?region=us
Afflict violates every principle I believe in, and aspire to conduct my daily life. At least, that has been my approach toward the word.
If I am being called to afflict the comfortable, then what choices does the afflict offer me to choose?
Cause pain to. Cause suffering to. Affect. Trouble.
The first two options are not in concert with my values. I would never knowingly inflict physical or emotional pain or suffering on anyone, especially a loved one. I cannot, in good conscience, even consider it. I understand the impact both may have. I cannot be a party to effecting those consequence.
Trouble is more nebulous to me. I find it hard to quantify trouble, either positively or negatively.
If asked to place the four elements of afflict on a continuum, with the most egregious on the left to the most palatable on the right, I would draw the following continuum. At the far left would be cause pain. The next element would be cause suffering.
The first two elements are relatively close to one another. The third element would be further to the right--trouble. On the far right of my continuum would be affect. If I accept affect, it completely changes my understanding of afflict. Somehow, it takes the emotional sting I have abhorred whenever I heard the word.
If I am being called to afflict the comfortable, then what choices does the afflict offer me to choose?
Cause pain to. Cause suffering to. Affect. Trouble.
The first two options are not in concert with my values. I would never knowingly inflict physical or emotional pain or suffering on anyone, especially a loved one. I cannot, in good conscience, even consider it. I understand the impact both may have. I cannot be a party to effecting those consequence.
Trouble is more nebulous to me. I find it hard to quantify trouble, either positively or negatively.
If asked to place the four elements of afflict on a continuum, with the most egregious on the left to the most palatable on the right, I would draw the following continuum. At the far left would be cause pain. The next element would be cause suffering.
The first two elements are relatively close to one another. The third element would be further to the right--trouble. On the far right of my continuum would be affect. If I accept affect, it completely changes my understanding of afflict. Somehow, it takes the emotional sting I have abhorred whenever I heard the word.
If asked to identify my modus operandi, when it comes to affecting or seeking to affect people or causes, it is storytelling. My maternal grandfather was a tremendous storyteller. He shared marvelous stories about his life. He was accessible to me, having lived with my family when I was in high school. Ray was certainly not Catholic, nor liberal politically. Yet, he instilled in me the value of telling stories--sharing personal history.
I started this posting not knowing what action to take. I knew or knew of several facts. First, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. Second, I was called to comfort the afflicted--literally. Third, I was called to afflict the comforted. Fourth, I had a relationship to provide context to any comfort or affliction I might choose to act upon.. Finally, I was a coward in risking myself to provide needed help. My loved ones have risked themselves to improve my life--to save me at times when I have been without knowledge of how to help myself. I can, should, and now have taken several actions. I do not know how they will be received. Yet, my offerings were--are--genuine, honest, and well-intended.
Jesus is the penultimate example of someone who comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable. Your ponderings are way off the mark, especially if you heard that phrase in church. You SHOULD hear it in church. Especially if it were comfortable Roman Catholic Church... ; )
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