Hearing Stories

Medical Brigade in Honduras, 2014

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe

Psalm 107: 2 (NIV)

Sometimes you are unaware of the privilege of “taking a history” and hearing the patient’s story until that is a rare part of your life.   It is one of the realities of retirement.  The recent exception was a week in Honduras with a medical brigade from Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church.  I was able to hear and see people telling their stories with people ready to listen.

At another time in Honduras (1998), I was told that “Being able to tell the story is the beginning of healing”.  What is also true is that it requires a listener and we are all called to be those people as noted by Dietrich Bonhoeffer at a much earlier time (1954). 

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not only gives us His word, but also lends us His ear”

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (1954), pp. 97-98

There is another component that happens when you are a part of the story.  This is a special kind of “active listening” that is empathetic.  It is not passive and distant!   It is the heart of healing!

Thanks for the healing power of stories!

Marvin

References

Hage, M. L (2014). Returning.  Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2014/03/returning.html

Hage, M. L. (2013). Difficult Conversations. Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2013/11/difficult-conversations.html

Ubuntu Revisited

Robben Island Prison Cell of Nelson Mandela

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3: 12-13 New International Version (NIV)

I just finished reading the latest book by Desmond Tutu written that confronts the difficult subject of Forgiving.   This is a guidebook as noted in the title, The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World.  We are given examples, exercises to practice  and methods of reflection.   The underlying response is our interconnectedness also known as ubuntu.

We are harmed together, and we heal together. It is only in this fragile web of relationship that we rediscover our purpose, meaning, and joy after pain and loss.

When we visited the prison at Robben Island, we felt the reality of that imprisonment.   The good news is that we also experienced the reality of the healing and remembered the joy of release!  The journey to joy is about forgiving and being forgiven!

Another way of thinking about forgiveness is as a need for a “cosmic pardon”!   We are all imprisoned by anger, regret and now we can receive a new freedom.  For Christians, we celebrate this healing forgiveness as the central message of Easter.

Marvin

References

Tutu, Desmond; Tutu, Mpho (2014-03-18). The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World . HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Hage, M. L. (2012). Rx Ubuntu. Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2012/04/rx-ubuntu.html

Tutu, Desmond; Tutu, Mpho (2014-03-18). The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World (p. 104). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Journey to Joy

Obstetric Joy

“Pilgrimage is a journey taken in the light of a story.”  Paul Elie on Krista Tippett

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples” Matthew 28:8  New International Version (NIV)

We have been focused on finding “happiness” as a culture.  “Happiness” seems to have a kind of private/individual focus.  It seems to me that at this time of Lent/Easter we need to see that “joy” is the “light” in the pilgrimage in the Good News story!

A reality of our pilgrimage towards “joy” is that it is a journey in relationship to others.  When we are on pilgrimages we do not travel alone.  

We have that joy experience in relationship to others.   It is what we feel when we hear the Hallelujah Chorus or sing it standing with our brothers and sisters.   Most importantly it was the initial emotion in response to the reality of the resurrection; a reality that must be shared.   That Joy can be ours as well if we live our lives into that reality.

Marvin

References:

Hage, Marvin (2010-12-01). Healing Agents: Christian Perspectives (p. 65). Kindle Edition. 

Francis, P. (2013). The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium. Usccb. 

Paul Elrie  with Krista Tippett “On Being” - “Faith Fired by Literature”

Retrieved from http://www.onbeing.org/program/faith-fired-literature/999

Hage, M. L. (2013). Joy. 

Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2013/06/joy.html

Returning

Rembrandt's  Prodigal Son

“Altar Q: 16th Ruler Receives Staff of Leadership from 1st Ruler”, Copan, Honduras

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Returning to Honduras (2/22/14) was exciting but with some emotional uncertainty.  When I left in 1998, it was at a of a time of personal and professional loss.  It was also a time of transitions that were difficult but helped shaped a new direction in my life.  So how did I see this place that was also a beginning?  Which “son” do I look like? (See David Brooks editorial)

What I experienced was some wonderful memories of a place and people.  What was the best was to experience and see my son's leadership. The community service model had not changed in form, but it's execution had been improved and expanded.

So, Rembrandt's depiction of a father and his sons and the Altar Q can also be seen from a perspective of a father's or a King's joy in the transfer and continuation of leadership and a work that is valued!

Marvin

References

Luke 15:11-32

Fash, W. F., Ricardo Agurcia. (2007). History Carved In Stone: A Guide To The Archaeological Park Of The Ruins Of Copan, Fourth Edition (4th Edition ed.). Copan Association. Page 25.

Marcel Proust Quote: Most likely a misquote but with origins in the work “Remembrance of Things Past”.

Hage, Marvin (2010-12-01). Healing Agents: Christian Perspectives (p. 30). Kindle Edition. 

The "Heart of Christianity"

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila, by Bernini, Rome

After leaving Tenwek Kenya, we spent 3 days in Rome, Italy.  The first day we got a "Hop On/Hop Off" bus to get an overview of the Eternal City.  As we rounded the corner we saw St. Peter's Basilica and heard on the audio narration that "Here is the Heart of Christianity".  That announcement stayed with us and became a challenge as we viewed the wonderful art of this ancient city.

The last day, we visited a smaller church, “Santa Maria della Vittoria" and saw the Bernini sculpture "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila".   The visions and embodiment of God's love in that sculpture is for me a better description of the "Heart of Christianity".  It is the passion that we saw and felt in Kenya!   It is that Love that we have received as an unmerited gift that makes all the difference.

Marvin

References

Hage, M. L. (2011). The Mystery of Healing. Retrieved from http://healingagents.blogspot.com/2011/04/mystery-of-healing.html

Making a Difference?

The Mural of the Good Samaritan at the University of Nairobi

Before we left for Kenya, the question was “Do you see a difference?”  We definitely have in this place called Tenwek Hospital.   That question was also answered by the Bill GatesAnnual Letter 2014.  The Gates Foundation has a clear purpose and with partners is making a difference.  It is worth reading!

I just finished the book “The Unwinding:  An Inner History of the New America” by George Packer.  These stories of success and loss in America chronicle the “unwinding of America that is not encouraging.    The metric is income, foreclosures and financial loss.

What should we do with these divergent views of the world?   My short answer is that poverty and purpose are two different outcomes.  What I have seen here at Tenwek is a clear purpose that results in an increasing impact of this institution in this region.   So reduction of poverty, availability of clean water, medical care and education are all important; but it is a clear purpose that sustains the work here at Tenwek.  That purpose is found in the lives of the staff and sustained by their faith.

Marvin

Another Beautiful Day in Kenya