Healing and the Gift of Tears

In the July blog, we considered two of the siblings of Bethany – Mary and Martha – and how the qualities they demonstrate in Luke 10.38-42 align with two of the Bield’s core values: Hospitality and Spirituality. It is also important to give attention to their brother, Lazarus, and the third Bield core value, Healing.

Lazarus is mentioned in the gospels as the brother of Mary and Martha, and is likely best known for being raised from the dead by Jesus in John 11. Lazarus is a key figure in the healing ministry of Jesus. His raising is significant in its impact – through it Jesus demonstrates supremacy over the powers of death.

Healing is essential to the very name of the Bield. As stated on our home page, ‘bield’ is ‘an old Scottish word, rich and resonant in meanings, from shelter to welcome, from refuge to strength’. Providing a place of refuge for healing and restoration has been important to the core function of the Bield since its founding. Guests often comment on this place being a place of healing for them, in various ways.

We can explore these core values in the context of the siblings in Bethany by considering where God is in their stories – Jesus is at the centre of every encounter. We can gain insight and inspiration from his relationship with them. In their home, they provide an atmosphere centered on the values of hospitality and spirituality, with a focus on Jesus, who teaches and heals. The siblings set the scene, as it were. Jesus does the healing.

And so it is for all of us. Healing is what God does. At the Bield, we seek to incorporate our core values into establishing an environment for healing, focused on God. Ultimately, healing is God’s work, and it is a privilege to accompany people in their journeys towards healing and restoration. On occasion, this journey may include the gift of tears, something Jesus himself experienced in the narrative of Lazarus’ healing during his visit to the tomb – John 11:35 simply states ‘Jesus wept’.

Tears can be a direct expression of the soul, expressing how deeply we love and can feel pain. They can also be an indication that we are on to something – perhaps discovering where God is in our own story and how deeply we are loved. And perhaps the gift of tears is an indication that we are taking the next step on a journey toward healing.

I am reminded of healing and restoration every day at the Bield when I walk past the cross just beyond the chapel. The story behind it, as I understand it, is that it was crafted from a healthy tree that had been mistakenly cut down. The tree could not be fully ‘healed’ or re-planted, but a part of it has been restored and reformed in this beautiful cross. It has been a comfort to many who, during a difficult time, find hope and restorative healing in its story of transformation.

I wonder where God is in your journey, and what kind of healing and restoration you may experience here at the Bield.