The recent arrival of an unexpected visitor at my virtual doorstep served as a stark reminder of just how much hurt (and how little healing) there is in the world. Not long into her “stay”, I couldn’t help but take a step back and wonder why that is, why the amount of hurt dwarfs the availability of healing the way it does in today’s world. In the midst of that reflection, it struck me that it’s due, at least in part, to the fact that, unlike hurt, which requires almost no effort at all (the stroke of a pen, a click on a keyboard, a careless word, etc.), healing demands commitment, intentionality, and hard work on the part of all involved in the process. It’s also likely because healing is found:
in tranquility, not chaos;
in walking alongside, not confrontation;
in empathy, not judgment;
in tenderness, not trauma;
in humility, not hubris;
in letting in, not shutting out;
in listening, not shouting over;
in forgiveness, not vindictiveness;
in an open hand extended, not a clenched fist;
in words of affirmation, not condemnation;
in patience, not impulsivity;
in vulnerability, not bravado;
in thoughtfulness, not mindlessness;
in mending, not tearing apart;
in reconciliation, not division;
in “shame off you”, not “on you”; and
in quiet presence, not unfiltered noise;
Above all else, it is rooted in hope and the prospect of redemption, not despair and defeat.
The good news is: We all have the capacity to swing open the doors to our hearts a little wider and put out a “WELCOME” mat that lets those in our work, family, and social circles – even strangers – know they can find those things in us. In fact, some would argue it is a moral imperative and from my vantage point, we can’t start exercising it soon enough. Who knows, together, we might just save a life (or two!).
donblackwell 