In this piece for On Being, Omid Safi shares how an old Middle Eastern story about a drowning man can teach us how to offer our support to someone in distress.
“…if you want to reach out to someone who is struggling to stay above water, go to them.
But don’t ask them to give you their hand. Instead, offer them your hand. Don’t ask for their heart, offer them your heart. Offer them your ear, your love, your shoulder. Release your friends, your family, from the shame of their brokenness. Let them know that you love them through the brokenness, because of the brokenness, and God-willing, after the brokenness.”
