Suffering takes many forms. Some struggle with illness, addiction, or broken relationships. Others bear the weight of shame, regret, or isolation. These burdens separate us, making us feel unworthy of connection. The social barriers can be as painful as the struggles themselves. We long for restoration, for the chance to be whole. True healing is not just about curing disease or fixing circumstances; it is about being seen, accepted, and brought back into community. Transformation happens when we move beyond judgment and fear, when we reach for one another with compassion. No one is beyond hope. No one is beyond renewal. We are not alone in our pain, and we do not have to remain where we are.
May we embrace one another with compassion,
knowing that no one is beyond hope or renewal.
(inspired by Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder, True to Our Native Land; Walter Brueggemann, The Song of the Ex-Leper)