The tragedy that occurs in the play of human life does not only demand answers and responses from the affected subjects, but also from those who are in contact with the suffering subject. Our natural response is to be there to strengthen and comfort people who are experiencing such a heavy struggle. That is why in our society it is very common for someone to pay their respects when someone is grieving, visit those who are sick, listen to stories from friends who are heartbroken, or be there to help those who are experiencing disaster. The question is how we can provide meaningful comfort to those who are suffering. Sometimes confusion surrounds those who are visiting and trying to comfort. What words of comfort should we say so as not to fall into a response of lack of empathy and one-sided judgment? Or should we remain silent, showing our presence to those who are suffering?

Our following story is about the presence of Job's friends and the beginning of Job's cries over the tragedy that befell him. Job 2:11-13 tells the story of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who were Job's friends. They came from various parts of the ancient Middle East. This shows that news about Job, a prominent man who lost everything, had spread throughout the Middle East. Job's friends were truly saddened by Job's condition. They showed deep sorrow in accordance with gestures that were common in the culture at that time, namely crying loudly, tearing their robes, and scattering ashes towards the sky, above their heads. Crying and tearing robes are responses to grief. While ashes are a sign of regret and human mortality. After that they sat as low as Job. Showing their support for what Job experienced. What is interesting is that after carrying out these actions, Job's three friends apparently chose to remain silent with Job who was also silent. Job's silent response can be interpreted as his process of digesting what happened but at the same time a person who was facing deep grief and trauma. A sign of deep friendship was shown by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Perhaps by deciding to remain silent, the friends wanted to give the traumatized and wounded Job time to be alone and recover. Sure enough, after seven days and seven nights of being carried away in silence, Job began to speak. The words he spoke were expressed in a poem that showed his heart's cry over the suffering he experienced. He cursed the day of his birth. Hoping that the day would be erased from history so that whatever happened at the time of his birth could be annulled. As if nothing had ever happened. If previously God had brought light into the world, then on the day of Job's birth, let the darkness return and envelop that day. Job wanted to erase his existence, the darkness seemed to block God's view of Job because why was he born but had to experience such severe suffering as if he had escaped God's sight. Once again we see that Job still did not curse God, but wept over his own existence.

Bible friends, may we also be as wise as Job's friends at the beginning of Job's suffering. They chose to respond with silence when faced with the condition of their friend who was so concerning. Empathy can also be seen through our presence. Sometimes just being present is enough to accompany those who are hurting and experiencing unspeakable suffering. But in other situations, we may have to speak and convey our views. This is where God's wisdom and prudence must always be our mainstay. Dealing with those who are hurt or even traumatized is not always easy. Sometimes the response is so heartbreaking as seen in Job's response. Behind all that, we must still be present to bandage those who are "wounded", even though sometimes it is not easy and can even make us ourselves scratched "wounds".