{"id":13993,"date":"2023-03-29T22:42:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T20:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=13993"},"modified":"2023-03-29T22:42:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T20:42:17","slug":"a-quiet-act-of-kindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/03\/29\/a-quiet-act-of-kindness\/","title":{"rendered":"A quiet act of kindness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n <\/p>\n

A small but monumental gesture<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a vegetarian takeaway place in Brighton called Infinity<\/em>, where I would eat sometimes. I went there the first time I\u2019d gone out in public after Arthur* had died. There was a woman who worked there and I was always friendly with her, just the normal pleasantries, but I liked her. I was standing in the queue and she asked me what I wanted and it felt a little strange, because there was no acknowledgement of anything. She treated me like anyone else, matter-of-factly, professionally. She gave me my food and I gave her the money … As she gave me back my change, she squeezed my hand. Purposefully.<\/p>\n

It was such a quiet act of kindness. The simplest and most articulate of gestures, but, at the same time, it meant more than all that anybody had tried to tell me … because of the failure of language in the face of catastrophe. She wished the best for me, in that moment. There was something truly moving to me about that simple, wordless act of compassion … I\u2019ll never forget that. In difficult times I often go back to that feeling she gave me. Human beings are remarkable, really. Such nuanced, subtle creatures.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

* Nick’s son
\n 
\nfrom Faith, Hope and Carnage<\/em> by Nick Cave<\/strong>, quoted on themarginalian.org<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n\n

The Beatitudes<\/h3>\n

(see Luke 6:20-22, Matthew 5:3-12)<\/em><\/p>\n

The poor, and those in solidarity with them \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those who mourn and feel grief about the state of the world \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

The non-violent, gentle and humble \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those who hunger and thirst for the common good \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

The merciful and compassionate \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those characterized by sincerity, kindness and generosity \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those who work for peace and reconciliation \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those who keep seeking justice \u2013
\nGod is on your side.<\/p>\n

Those who stand for justice and truth as the prophets did,
\nwho refuse to be quiet even when slandered,
\nmisrepresented, threatened, imprisoned or harmed \u2013
\nGod is on your side!<\/p>\n

 
\n~ by Brian McLaren<\/strong> and Rob Bell<\/strong>, posted on re:worship<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  A small but monumental gesture There\u2019s a vegetarian takeaway place in Brighton called Infinity, where I would eat sometimes. I went there the first time I\u2019d gone out in public after Arthur* had died. There was a woman who worked there and I was always friendly with her, just the normal pleasantries, but I … Continue reading “A quiet act of kindness”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,127,60],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-13993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-quote","category-story","tag-quiet"],"yoast_head":"\nA quiet act of kindness - 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My mind buzzes with noise and I cannot pray. Please help me.\" Her mentor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poetry"","block_context":{"text":"poetry","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marble_table_iron_foot.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marble_table_iron_foot.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marble_table_iron_foot.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/marble_table_iron_foot.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6736,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/01\/15\/grace-upon-grace\/","url_meta":{"origin":13993,"position":2},"title":"Grace upon grace","author":"Irene Bom","date":"January 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 From [Christ's] abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. John 1:16 (NLT) \u00a0 Let us then approach God\u2019s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. \u00a0 Hebrews 4:16 (NIVUK) \u00a0 More\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clouds_and_reflections.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clouds_and_reflections.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clouds_and_reflections.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clouds_and_reflections.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15508,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2024\/08\/05\/a-pregnant-pause\/","url_meta":{"origin":13993,"position":3},"title":"A pregnant pause","author":"Irene Bom","date":"August 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Take time this week to pause and savour these words, inspired by Paul's teaching on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 3:22-23. \u00a0 A litany \u00a0 Lord, may we bear the fruits of your Spirit: give us love, that boundless, healing energy that transforms the world; \u00a0(pause)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sign_and_leafy_shadows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sign_and_leafy_shadows.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sign_and_leafy_shadows.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sign_and_leafy_shadows.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3371,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/12\/2017-advent-hope-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":13993,"position":4},"title":"2017: Advent Hope #3","author":"Kim Hurst","date":"December 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 ELIZABETH'S HOPE Luke 1:24\u201325 \u00a0(NRSVA) 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 \u201cThis is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/candles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/candles.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/candles.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/candles.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3444,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/12\/14\/2017-advent-hope-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":13993,"position":5},"title":"2017: Advent Hope #5","author":"Kim Hurst","date":"December 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 JOSEPH'S HOPE Matthew 1:18\u201321 \u00a0(NRSVA) 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/cross_in_snow.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/\" rel=\"category tag\">bible<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/quote\/\" rel=\"category tag\">quote<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/story\/\" rel=\"category tag\">story<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"  A small but monumental gesture There\u2019s a vegetarian takeaway place in Brighton called Infinity, where I would eat sometimes. I went there the first time I\u2019d gone out in public after Arthur* had died. There was a woman who worked there and I was always friendly with her, just the normal pleasantries, but I…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}