Comfort

BETHANY TIPPIN

Today this square of sunshine and dog-hair-covered-carpet brings joy. It’s day 6 of forced confinement due to a frustrating and limiting illness. I venture out of bed, but barely further. My head still pounds, but the sunshine feels good and the view outside brings expansion.

Like a cat, I stretch a bit and find myself 100% present to the feel of warmth on my skin. 

I’m to the point of boredom and self-pity, wishing to be back in community, motion, and achievement—but the message I receive is, “not yet.” 

I turn back to the sunshine, close my eyes, and begin to pray. The Word surfaces. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor 1:3-4). Yes, I am comforted. 

So, I reach out to you, through words, across time, space, and geographic location. I meet you in this in-between space where we reside so freely and consistently, and say, “God is near. Despite all circumstances, he reaches out to you. May you find him in the simple things and rest there.”