God encourages us to come to Him as we are. I have known times in my life when I can deeply relate to Edvard Munch's despair in "The Scream." It is comforting to me to have the depths of emotional pain expressed in a work of art. Often our lives are segmented with the more despairing areas cut off and carefully hidden. It is when these emotions are hidden that they can do the most damage both to us and to others. I am thankful for those who have artistically given expression to the depth of human emotion. Mental illness, too, is very much part of a spectrum of emotion that is so dangerously ignored and stigmatized.
In our selves and our children do not be afraid of the expression of despair and pain. Often we recoil in fear in their expression, preferring more comfortable places. Seek appropriate places to express those extremes of emotion. Allow them expression. Bring them to God. The Bible is full of real and uncomfortable emotion expressed. Rage, anger, despair, doubt and hopelessness are as much a part of the human condition created by God as are love, hope and joy. With Munch I can relate to the despair that is also part of love.
Adoption brings together depth of emotion and pain in both ourselves and our children. Most of our children can also relate to this person at the depths of self. Sometimes it is only in the safety of family that these deeply buried feelings can begin to surface and show themselves. I often want to only acknowledge and affirm the gentle love and smooth emotions in life. I am disturbed and embarrassed by those raw emotions expressed by both myself and my children and quickly try to change them and cover them over to appear well regulated and happily perfect. Certainly self regulation is a desirable goal. May we still gently accept ourselves and others in the midst of those depths of emotion and raw feelings. Allowing them, may they be catalysts to growth and deeper places of peace in ourselves as human beings. Do not be afraid. Come as you are.
No comments:
Post a Comment