Being present in tears
December 8th, 2024 – Communion Meditation
Three times this week in three completely different situations, I was with another person who was unexpectedly overtaken by tears. Tears, whether they well in our eyes or fall down our cheeks, can ambush us for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes we think we know why we are crying; rarely can we adequately understand someone else’s tears. We can always show up for someone by just being present with them in their tears.
As I let my curiosity guide my reading yesterday, I was surprised / not surprised to learn that scientific studies related to tears have discovered things we humans learned a long time through scripture and theology. Sociology professor Jack Katz defines three dimensions of crying as related to various temporal perspectives. He says that when we look to the past with regret, for example, because we are grieving the loss of a loved one and wished we had spent more time with them, we might experience sad crying. When we look to the future with dread, for example, because we’re nervous about an upcoming event, we might experience sorrowful crying. When we are able to be “here” with someone with an intense awareness, we might experience joyful crying. Katz says that “Crying as a result of happiness would then be a response to a moment as if it is eternal; the person is frozen in a blissful, immortalized present.”
The study of tears and the study of theology both tell us that as we practice being present in the present, we experience joy! God meets us in our grief and loss and pain and suffering and fills us with joy! Listen to this apocalyptic description of how God, the great “I am,” is fully present with us in our mourning, crying, pain, and tears:
Revelation 21:3-5a (NRSV) – “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’”
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are present with us. As we meet with you right here, right now, we offer ourselves fully to you – all that we are and all that we have, all of our regret, and all of our dread. Please give us the grace to be present with you in the present. We welcome you – please help us to more fully enter and receive your joy!
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Eat together)
Again, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Drink together)
