Minor Characters

In meditation, let us focus on compassion for those who are overlooked—minor characters in stories and in life. Reflect on the figures of Deborah, Rachel’s nursemaid, and Eliezer of Damascus. Their lives, like Rachel’s own tragic death, are often reduced to mere footnotes in the grand narrative of Genesis. Janet Malcolm observed that biographers and storytellers may sacrifice the humanity of such “flat” characters to serve the greater arc. Yet these are three-dimensional souls with full, untold stories. In meditation, honor them and others who are marginalized or forgotten. Hold space for their dignity, their silent contributions, and their humanity. With each breath, expand your compassion, embracing those whose lives ripple unseen beneath the surface of larger tales.