When trauma does occur…
We are living in times of racism, skewed values, and careless words. All can lead to war, and do lead to violence, in our country, right in the daily news. All past presidents would have used their national platform to bring peace and reconciliation within our nation.
So when trauma does occur… (Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical–American Psychological Association) we experience the following ways in which the experience of trauma confuses us, and the TRUTH does set us free.
Who has not experienced trauma. In my novel, Following Shadows a fictional family responds to the worst of traumas or war. Whatever the trauma, here are truths which will set you free.
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Myth: It was my fault
Truth: I blame myself because I rightly yearn for control. No, not my fault.
Myth: I cannot face the past, it is too much.
Truth: God’s Grace will only take me (to the past) where God’s Grace will protect me.
Myth: My trauma taught me to never trust. No one can be trusted with neither my secrets nor my healing.
Truth: I trust my gut instincts to show me who to trust. Other
survivors and trustworthy people relieve me of the burden of secrets and heal my wounds.
(photograph notes: These photos are from approximately October 1945, of boys liberated from Camp Ambarawa on Java/Indonesia; March 1946 women and children in the hold of a ship going from Indonesia to the Netherlands; a child’s teddy bear was the never-discovered hiding place for valuables in one Japanese Concentration Camp)
