There is some intense heaviness in my world right now, and I know I'm not alone. A couple of weeks ago we had a staff development meeting, and a lady from the Rape Crisis Center came to speak to us about human trafficking. She explained to us that this is not an issue just in some other parts of the world but in our own city, as well. It was informative and sad, and I walked away feeling a little more knowledgable but completely helpless.
Monday was an in-service day, and a very dynamic speaker talked to us about systems theory, as it relates to families, communities and schools. Mostly, he helped us understand how it affects children, so when we see them affected by a broken system, we can somehow try to help. In order to teach us, he shared examples of what broken systems look like, and contrasted them with characteristics of healthy ones. It was fascinating, and I learned a lot. Again, it reminded me of the brokenness in our world and of hurting people everywhere. Marriages, kids, teachers, students, families are hurting.
A man in my hometown community, along with his wife and 3 kids, is facing a brain tumor, complications of surgery and the possibility of a shorter life than any of them could have imagined. People are hurting.
People in Ferguson and outside of Missouri, black, white and every other color, police officers and convicted criminals, are affected by what is happening in our country and among the people of this nation. It is impossible to live in America and be unaffected, which can only be accomplished by pretense. We are each one affected, and in some way...hurting.
Tonight, my husband and I decided to watch a movie. He wanted gory action, I wanted shallow romantic comedy, so we compromised on a documentary that we have wanted to watch and just kept forgetting about it. We watched Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, which is a documentary on modern-day sex slavery. I didn't think I could finish watching, because I was going to be sick. It wasn't visually graphic, and it didn't have to be. I couldn't believe what I was seeing...that it wasn't a movie...this is real, and it happens every day. It happens in our world, in our country and to people who never asked for this life. Every person involved in human trafficking is hurting, and most of them don't even know it.
Uplifting on Thanksgiving Eve, right? It's important, though, that we are able to admit, especially during the holidays that life can be downright tough. It's essential that we are able to say "I'm hurting, and I need something to help me." Because if we can't acknowledge it, then we get stuck there, and the only thing that changes is that we become hurt people who hurt people. We get to a place where 'hopeless' becomes too weak of a word to describe how we feel, as one of the interviewees on the documentary put it. We cannot get to that point and survive. If we can say "I am hurting," then we can also ask for help. That is where healing begins.
I'm so glad I stuck it out until the end of the documentary, because it was worth it. You've seen these victims of human trafficking being interviewed throughout it, some of them just a shadowed silhouette. They've shared their stories and the horrific details of the nightmare they lived. They cried and struggled to find words to describe the evils they encountered. The experts shared about the psychology of it all and the Stockholm Syndrome, victim mentality, psychological brainwashing and the overwhelming statistics of those who are rescued return to the lifestyle. Right when you get to a point where you feel like giving up for them, even the ones who are rescued, because they can never recover, they ask them about what has helped them overcome what they have survived. All of the sudden, these women who were crying and quietly battling to talk, are filled with joy, have light in their eyes and are talking non-stop about the one and only thing that has helped them know they are loved, worth something and have value. Jesus. Somehow, in some way, they encountered Jesus and His love for them, and once again they have hope. They have marriages and families and ministries to help others.
It's true, people are hurting everywhere. Many are experiencing pain deeper than I could ever imagine. Maybe you saw the title of this blog post and were enticed to click and read because you are hurting, too. If that's true, please know that I am praying for you tonight, for Jesus to overwhelm your soul and bring you peace and calm in the midst of your storm, as only He can.
A song from way back when has been on my heart tonight, and I want to share the lyrics here. I hope they will offer some sense of encouragement for those who need it so desperately right now.
JESUS IS THE ANSWER
Jesus is the answer for the world today.
Above him there's no other, Jesus is the way.
If you have some questions
In the corners of your mind
Traces of discouragement
Peace you cannot find
Reflections of your past
Seem to face you everyday
But this one thing I do know,
Jesus is the way.
Jesus is the answer for the world today.
Above him there's no other, Jesus is the way.
I know you've got mountains
You think you cannot climb
I know your skies are dark
You think the sun won't shine
But in case you don't know
That the word of God is true
Everything he's promised
He'll do it for you.
Jesus is the answer for the world today.
Above him there's no other, Jesus is the way.
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