Monday, May 17th, ahem... Tuesday, May 18th

I read an extremely powerful blog post today written by a woman, Stacey, of Is There Any Mommy Out There.** In it, she describes her response to the case of the woman who put her adopted son, alone, on a plane back to Russia. It is the type of story that gives people plenty to talk about, with lots of opportunity for armchair quarterbacking. Stacey has a unique perspective, though. She adopted a son who she was not able to keep in her home.

I don't think I can do justice to her post. I recommend that you read it for yourself. The truth that she writes about applies to more than just the circumstances she discusses in particular. The bit that I want to bring to our Sleeping with Bread group here is the idea that sometimes we point fingers when we need to be lending a hand--or, in the very likely legitimate circumstance that we can't lend a hand, we at least stop pointing fingers.

How does this relate to the concept of Sleeping with Bread? Well, it's simple. Sleeping with Bread is about examining that which causes desolation in our lives and that which gives us consolation. When we point fingers at others we are causing desolation--even if those we are pointing fingers at NEVER know what we are saying or writing about them. We forsake ourselves when we accuse others. We become a source of desolation to our own souls.

We have, though, another option--the option of consolation. Lending a hand, praying for someone, withholding our judgment can not only console the person who is hurting or who maybe did make a bad decision, but, just as we can cause desolation to our own souls, we can console our own souls.

It has been a few weeks since this incident occurred. At the time, I had just finished preparing for and having an interview for a full-time job. My husband was out of town. I remember hearing about it and thinking it was a terrible thing to have happened, but I honestly don't remember much more than that. I also don't recall too many of my Twitter or Facebook friends discussing it online. I hope at the time that I had some generosity in my heart for both the boy and the woman who put him on that plane. Either way, Stacey's post reminds me to stop and think before pointing fingers and to stop and care for someone instead.


Although the examen is a Christian practice, I would hope that anyone who has something to share would feel welcome here. Also, if you don't have your own blog and would like to participate, share your bread in the comments. To holding on to what gives life,

Mary-LUE


**This post was brought to my attention by @SKEdman via her Facebook page.