I happened upon this today on the FaceBook page for “Poetry Ireland”. The words below are not mine but so well said; they moved me, and I had to share! I love when I hear a familiar story but told from a different perspective, and I glean fresh, unrevealed insights. Most of us know this Biblical account of these friends being so determined to find a way to bring their sick friend to Jesus, to take the extraordinary efforts to cut a hole in the roof, and to lower the friend down to Jesus in hope of healing. The story does recognize their efforts but quickly the miracle of healing takes center stage. And, this is good. But this poem reminds us that without this kind of friendship, the sick friend would have likely missed Jesus, missed the healing.
While the healing of this man is truly a miracle that stands alone, perhaps the steadfastness and faithfulness of his friends is also a miracle. In today’s world, most of us have few folks that would journey to extraordinary lengths for us. Some stop by or check in, but few rarely walk beside us for long, especially in difficult times. If you have friends who take the extraordinary journey with you, as Seamus writes those ones who had known him all along, be thankful for this divine miracle! God’s goodness provides for us in so many ways, sometimes it’s in healing and sometimes it’s in friendship. Look around your community and become this blessing for others! - dho
“Miracle by Seamus Heaney is our poem of the day, in which he celebrates the value of community and the blessing of friendship as much as the story of a miraculous healing. We, at Poetry Ireland fondly remember the poet and Nobel Laureate on his anniversary, as a great friend to us and to the world of Irish Poetry. One of Ireland's greatest artists who painted our lives, stories and mythologies in word and sound.” - copied from “Poetry Ireland”
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