Why?  Because God does not have a mind to tolerate bullies, especially bullies who attack those who are less powerful than them. That was no consolation to her, though.  She managed to gather herself only to have the tears return.  I stayed silent.  Sometimes the ministry of presence is the most loving. 

Finding ways to help people grieve, release hurt and anger, let go of the dream that came crashing down on them and find a new journey is never an easy thing.  Letting go of what was for what is and is coming is like wrenching a fifty-pound stone out of a muddy rock quarry.  It’s messy. It’s resistant.  It takes every ounce of determination and strength one has.   

It was all I could do not to burst into tears.  The music was not fancy. A concert pianist and violist played age old hymns between confession and receiving grace and Bible teaching and ultimately gratefulness for all that had been done by a God so deep in love with people that he refused to give up on even the worst of sinners.

In truth, life is a menagerie of easily doable; too hard to even try; and a million intermediate steps.