Tidings of great joy…and discomfort?
Angels bring tidings of great joy, but do they sometimes make us squirm?
The Angel of Discomfort
Some time ago I was having a discussion with a close friend who was going through some serious life transitions. She was not a particularly church-going type of person, but she shared with me a belief that she had about a very particular angel who she referred to as "the angel of discomfort." The angel of discomfort, as she put it, appears when life seems to be going well for someone
Rather than an indication of our inability to find satisfaction, the angel of discomfort is a reminder that our life was never meant to be "all worked out." In reality, the gentle tap on our shoulder is an indication that the comforts of this world (and the pursuit of those comforts) will always bring, at best, fleeting consolation. It is an indicator that we may have considered that there will be no more need for faith and hope. After all, if our life is perfect just as it is, what use do we have of the Christ that will come into our lives? Though inconvenient, we must embrace this tap on the shoulder as a blessing and a sign. (Even though at the time it may feel like a damp towel.)
Rhett Engelking
Program Manager, Franciscan Earth Corps
What is on YOUR mind and heart, that might be the “angel of discomfort” whispering in your ear?
How do we as Franciscans make the incarnation of Jesus Christ, which was so important to our Father Francis, present in our world with Jesus’ message of both comfort and challenge?
