And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
One judge is coughing his life out into bloody handkerchiefs and the other is burying his wife, and you think this is how God answers your prayers?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the absurdity of expecting divine intervention in the midst of human suffering and tragedy.
Orson Scott Card's quote highlights the complexities and harsh realities of life, suggesting that in moments of deep personal suffering and loss, it can be unreasonable to expect prayers to be answered in a way that aligns with our desires. It challenges the belief that divine forces will resolve human problems easily, pointing instead to the weight of existence that includes pain, grief, and the unpredictability of life.
Themes
SufferingPrayerLifeLossExistenceTragedy
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a memorial service reflecting on the unpredictability of life.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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