“Is the love of God real? Is it enough to actually bear the weight of our souls?"
— Tish Harrison Warren
Listen in on our conversation with priest and writer Tish Harrison Warren where we discuss human vulnerability, the nighttime prayer of Compline, and Tish’s upcoming book.
"Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen."
—A prayer of Compline from The Book of Common Prayer
As the longest night of the year was upon us last December, I spent time reading each night after long days of working while my children and husband were asleep. In those nights I was sitting with Tish Harrison Warren’s words in her most recent book Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep. Even in a book about the inevitability of our mortality and our “woundability,” Tish’s invitation was a balm to me in a dark winter. Framed by the themes found in the prayer of Compline from The Book of Common Prayer, Tish welcomes us into her own journey of learning to embrace our shared vulnerability, to offer permission to grieve even the small sufferings, and to fall into the depths of joy. She reminds us of God’s goodness and presence with us even when answers to the questions surrounding suffering cannot be found. Just as much, in this podcast, Tish invites us to consider how the triune God is with us in our suffering, vulnerability, and joy. I hope you’ll find it as meaningful as I did.
— Caroline Triscik
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